HMEFlIGmN SOLMER
Letters of
EDWIN HUSTIN HBBEY, 2D
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COPYRIGHT DEKJSIT.
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
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AN
AMERICAN SOLDIER
LETTERS OF
EDWIN AUSTIN ABBEY, 2d
BOSTON AND NEW YORK
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY
MCMXVIII
x\
COPYRIGHT, I918, BY KATHARINE ELEANOR ABBEY
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Published May igiS
1.3^
m W 1918
©CI.A499314
"VIMY RIDGE"
Killed at Vimy Ridge
In the jlower of his youth ;
Killed in battle^ facing foe —
Oh I May the -world find Truth*
Killed at Vimy Ridge
Fighting for a ^^cause^'^
The cause of all Humanity
And God'*s all-perfect laws,
R. B. H.
April 10, 1917
^^Greater love hath no man than this^ that a man
lay down his life for his friends.'''*
FOREWORD
The letters are printed, with little or no editing,
as they were written from the engineers' shack in
the Canadian woods, or from ''overseas " in camp,
trench, or hospital. There was, of course, no idea
in the mind of the writer that they would ever be
published. That they are is due to the insistent
request of many who have found in them both
illumination and inspiration. They tell their own
story. ^
The summer of 1915 was spent in superintend-
ing the construction of the bridge at Shaw's Creek,
which was completed at the end of September.
On October 2d, the writer of the letters enlisted
in the Second Canadian Pioneer Battalion, in
Toronto, going overseas on December 6th, and
arriving at the Flanders Front on the 11th of
March, 1916. Early in the morning of April 23d,
Easter Day, "Lance Corporal" E. A. Abbey was
wounded, and a week later sent to England, where
he remained seven months. On December 1st
he was returned to France, gazetted Lieutenant,
Fourth Canadian Mounted Rifles, and went at
once to the front, where he was "killed in action"
at Vimy Ridge, on the morning of Easter Tuesday,
April 10, 1917.
W. B. A. AND K. E. A.
Philadelphia, June, 1917
CONTENTS
I. Prefatory Letters — Canada, May-Octo-
ber, 1915 3
II. Letters from the Flanders Front — March-
April, 1916 ,23
III. Letters from the French Front — Decem-
ber, 1916-April, 1917 . . . . .73
IV. Additional Letters 169
PREFATORY LETTERS
(^Excerpts from letters to his Mother)
Lordy I have loved the habitation of Thy house^
and the place -where Thine honour dwelleth,
Ps. xxvi, 8
Above all countries is humanity.
Plato
I
PREFATORY LETTERS
Sudbury^ May 12, 1915
Went to the post-office and found your letter. It
was good to hear from you and your feeling about
the Lusitania. The dishonor to the flag is great,
but it seems to me more a dishonor to manhood
and humanity. I can see very little patriotism or
flags or countries ; it is more a struggle of man-
kind to defend the principles of humanity and
chivalry which the Creator has handed down,
even though the defenders themselves have abused
and sinned against the very principles they now
defend. It is as though the world had sinned to
a point where it divided, the one half going over
the bounds of human possibility, the other stop-
ping and reaching back to former good and true
tradition, to resist the impulse of the lost half to
swallow it up as well.
I feel we are only at the beginning, and
must really fight for existence. Germany has
shown herself a terrible menace, and she is be-
ginning to feel confidence in her own resources to
defy the world. The Allies have not gained an
3
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
inch of ground since the war started in August.
Thousands of men have given their lives to the
end that Germany is not already in a position to
destroy every woman, baby, and law of God,
which interferes with her affairs ; and thousands
more will have to offer themselves to prevent her
from reaching that position in the future. No
country or flag can be mine except the United
States, but if I could go to this war as a citizen
of the world, I would pray to be allowed.
Toronto^ May 15, 1915
I can't imagine what happened to my Sunday
letter. I was very careful about getting it off, be-
cause it was important. I reached Toronto Thurs-
day morning and wrote you Thursday night and
told you of my visit to the H.'s.
Yesterday afternoon Mr. I. called me up and
said that Mr. H. was going to put me in charge of
a bridge about to be built in the Muskoka district.
I saw Mr. H. and he said that if I wanted the
job I could have it. It is a position I could have
desired only in my dreams. The bridge is a good
size and on a curve, which requires special en-
gineering work to lay out, and not only that, but
the centre piers will have to be sunk to rock bot-
tom, through about forty feet of mud, by means
of compressed air caissons. Not only will I have
4
LETTERS FROM CANADA
complete charge of all the engineering work, but
as the contract is to be carried out on a cost plus
per cent basis, I will also have to keep strict ac-
count of all labor and material and be Responsible
for any waste or uneconomic methods in the con-
struction. In other words, I will be General Man-
ager of the whole job, and this will be even harder
because I have only two helpers when I could
easily use five. My ability will be taxed to the
utmost, which is the desire of my heart.
And yet. Mother,! went in to Mr. H. this
morning and told him that I could only accept the
position with the understanding that if the United
States declared war and called for volunteers, I
would leave at once. I am so full of that, it
drowns out every ambition or desire or thought
of the future that I have. I have nothing but a
great big desire to give myself to help in this
battle against evil.
Bala^ May 19, 1915
I want to tell you what I said in that letter that
never reached you. The affair of the Lusitania has
gone through me again and again. I feel as if I could
not just go ahead as I have since the war started,
making plans for my own advancement, or my
own family's welfare. It is not the isolated case
of the Lusitania, or that Americans were among
5
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
those to suffer, but the realization that it has
brought of the actual conditions in Europe and the
German attitude. It seems to me that the only rem-
edy is in the thousands of men who feel called to
oifer themselves for whatever they are worth.
Just now, it seems to me that America is in an
impossible position. Honor demands that we en-
ter the war, humanity that we stay out. I will do
nothing until the United States course is definitely
decided, but above everything in the world, I
want to go to the war and I want you and father
to tell me that I can govern myself by what knowl-
edge and judgment I have, with the surety of
your confidence in me to do right. I think I can
manage to serve in some way, if only you will
give me the inspiration of your approval and trust,
you and father.
Toronto, May 24, 1915
I can't say how grateful I am that you can feel
able to give me for whatever purpose may be in-
tended, for now I shall definitely plan to offer my
services in some capacity in the war. This bridge
work here came in such an unasked, unexpected
way, at a time when such opportunities are almost
unthought of, that I feel that I must keep on with
it at present, but if I cannot enlist here, I will plan
to go directly to Europe in the fall.
6
LETTERS FROM CANADA
Bala, May 27, 1915
Your letter came yesterday a.m. It almost an-
swered the thought in my last ; I mean the fol-
lowing guidance as well as one can see it, and I
feel just as you do about seeing this work through
if I can. Of course I have thought of Red Cross
work, but there are many who are only fitted for
that ; and many Americans who would only think
of doing that. My wish would be to go into the
army and let the superior governing decide my
duties. However, there is, no doubt, a guiding
hand in all these matters. I believe in following,
just as you ; but I think there is inward guidance
as well as outward.
What I meant by humanity restraining the
United States is the fact that in spite of all our
failure in national protest against outrages, still
our very spirit has been standing as between the
nations and their people that are in Germany's
power. The thousands of Belgians who have
nothing in the world are fed and clothed by us
because Germany in the nature of our ' ' friendly
relations " cannot help but permit it. This would
be cut off in case of war. Through us the Allies
are able to be in some way cognizant of the con-
dition of their prisoners of war, and Germany can-
not openly resent our investigation and supervision
in such matters. Our representative in the German
7
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
Court is a guarantee against open ill-treatment of
the thousands of interned and non-combatant ene-
mies in Germany. Once the United States de-
clares war, a great silent circle will be stretched
around the space enclosed by the foremost Ger-
man lines, and what will happen inside that circle
is all conjecture.
Bala^ May 28, 1915
Your letters this week have all been full of strength
and inspiration. The apathy you speak of is hard
to endure, but there is nothing to do but to have
patience. I would give worlds to be right in
Europe now, a trained soldier, without all the de-
lay and waiting and uncertainty ahead, but that
is a universal burden. If it comes to our going
in, I only hope and pray that we will take an
active and aggressive share of the burden and
sacrifice of the other nations, and not merely lie
back and strengthen our fortifications and home
protection against possible attack. I want the
young manhood of America to be given a chance
to prove themselves as willing to give themselves
for a just cause as they were in 1861, and as they
are now in the other nations of the world. Of
course, we know they would, but the call seems
to have come already.
8
LETTERS FROM CANADA
Bala^ June 10, 1915
Yesterday's paper had the news of Mr. Bryan's
resignation, and a great deal of importance and
significance, as to the attitude of the American
note, attached to it. One feels the portentousness,
if there is such a word, of the times. It is certainly
weak and selfish to ignore the issues and to live
ahead as if the distance of the actual reign of terror
made it unreal. Just as surely as I hear the frogs
and tree toads singing away in this quiet night in
the Canadian woods, a few thousand miles away
people are hearing the roar of cannon, seethe glare
of fires, and know themselves in the midst of death
and destruction.
Bala^ June 20, 1915
I suppose I might get my C.E. from this work,
if I wrote up a thesis, but I have n't time now,
and anyway, at present, I am not thinking much
about that sort of thing. I still feel, and I 'm sure
it will get stronger, rather than less, as time goes
on, my desire and purpose to be one of those who
make the war their business and thought. The
Allies are apparently preparing for a long fight and
show no sign of weakening in their determination
to see the affair to a finish. There is n't much to
talk about. We must just keep steady and realize
the gravity of things and prepare ourselves for hard
sledding.
9
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
Sharu's Creek^ July 2, 1915
They are anxious for recruits in Toronto, and yet
turning down hundreds who have bad eyes ; it is
very discouraging. I know you are praying for me.
Pray that I will be accepted in some way, when
the time comes.
Shaw's Creek^ July 21, 1915
The busiest thing in Toronto is the recruiting
which is going on. There are halls or stores in
every street with banners out, recruiting for the
different regiments, and a trolley car which runs
all over the city, decked out with flags and bunt-
ing, with a recruiting officer inside, and signs, such
as " Enlist now," " Your King and Country call
you," " Remember the Lusitania," "Do your
part," are everywhere. In the evening I saw two
big recruiting mass meetings, with military bands
and a parade of one of the city regiments, ' ' The
York Rangers." They are letting up a little in the
physical requirements. The men with defective
teeth are taken in and turned over to special den-
tists, who make them new sets free of charge ; but
I have heard nothing about the eyes.
Sha-uPs Creek^ July 27, 1915
The last note to Germany is finally a satisfactory
and determined statement. I may be able to serve
10
LETTERS FROM CANADA
under my own flag yet. Certainly Germany will
never accede to the requirements, and the wording is
not the sort that leaves room to " renege." I hope
with all my strength that the United States will
come to an awakening. To the European nations
we must seem, in our utter lack of preparedness in
the face of the greatest warfare in history, as a
modern miracle of stupid conceit. How can a na-
tion be so utterly careless of the future ? You can
hardly pick up an American paper or magazine
without seeing cartoons holding our futile army
and navy up to ridicule. Every one knows it is
true, and every one laughs and thinks it amusing.
Sharu's Creek, My 30, 1915
Father's papers came to me and I am glad to see
them. Just now, the American opinion, which I
cannot get in the papers up here, is especially inter-
esting. It is so easy to forget the war in the hurry
of a day's work, and yet it is still there, relent-
lessly raging on, and whatever we may be doing is
very inconsiderable in comparison. In one of the
papers father sent, I saw a paragraph saying that
the American Red Cross staff in the various armies
at the front were going to be withdrawn, owing to
the Society's lack of funds. Is n't that a horrible
example of the growing familiarity and careless con-
tempt of war conditions on the part of the American
11
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
public ! It really should be the first and last wak-
ing thought of every one, ahead of all personal
worries or affairs. If it were, what a difference in
events there would be.
Shaxv's Creek^ August 2, 1915
Here we are at the beginning of another month,
and the anniversary of the beginning of the war.
How many things have happened since last August
that we thought impossible then ; and how much
nearer are the Allies to an advantage or to any cer-
tainty of ultimate success? Something makes us
confident, or rather the general feeling of the out-
side world is a comforting confidence in final victory,
and still the Germans are advancing on foreign soil,
after a year's resistance. Why is the world so un-
willing to look serious things in the face ?
I wonder what we are going to do, having sent
our note, which could not have been received with
plainer evidence of dissatisfaction by the Germans.
I am beginning to feel, as you do, that the flag is
disgraced ; the honor of the nation being fumbled
away. The time for neutrality has passed. Why
is the United States so slow ? I can think of noth-
ing but the war. It seems immoral to think or plan
for anything else.
12
LETTERS FROM CANADA
Shaxv's Creek^ August 12, 1915
Your letter came yesterday, and it was a comfort
and help to know that you feel as strongly as I do
about the war and are making it easier for me in
my plans. I still hope the United States will have
an awakening, but if affairs are not definite by fall,
I still want to do something, whatever it can be ;
and the first thing logically seems now to try to
enlist in Canada, if there is any branch of the serv-
ice that will have me. My eyes will undoubtedly
be a stumbling-block ; but there must be some way.
I can't think that I would be useless.
Shard's Creek^ August 25, 1915
Your Wednesday letter came this morning. I have
been slow with my letters this. week. Of course we
will see each other again. I never had any plan
that did not include that. If by chance I can enlist
with the Canadians, it would mean at least six
months' training in Canada, and certainly in that
time there would be many chances. But, mother
dear, I think it is nearly impossible for me to get
in with them. The eye examination is still one
which only a piece of luck would allow me to pass,
and I am an American, which is in my disfavor,
even if I am willing to take the oath of allegiance.
I think the Hospital Corps will be my best chance,
and if I am not able to get into the regular army
13
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
service, there are some independent organizations.
The best chances are, I think, in Canada, so I will
try here first, but it may be that I will have to try
America, or my original plan of going to England.
Things must work out, as they always do.
I know that in those moments when the thought
of my possible going away comes, and for a mo-
ment seems overwhelming, it would help to think
of the women and children, still unhardened to
blind terrors, who have been stricken, — I do not
mean killed, but have had all that was humanly
dear and comforting snatched horribly away, —
and the victory that must be gained to put an end
to all this horror. Remember that your strength
is the mother strength that sacrifices itself for the
children and the weak. I am your child, but no
longer a human child with the necessities of hu-
man children ; and yet, mother, in the greatest way,
the spiritual way, I need you more every day, and
in that need you are always giving and helping me
and are always with me.
Shaw's Creek^ September 15, 1915
Your letter came yesterday morning, and the
newspapers, too. I am glad to read the "North
American" editorials and articles. I wish that I
could feel that it represented the majority sentiment
in the United States. One feels more keenly every
14
LETTERS FROM CANADA
day the demand for action, individual as well as
national. It seems almost incredible that people can
remain inactive. These last two weeks are becom-
ing more irksome every day. I want to get started.
If I cannot be placed in Toronto in the short time
it will take to find out, two or three days, I will
lose no time getting home, and will start as I orig-
inally thought I would have to, going over to
England. I am so glad you have begun making
the surgical dressings as a definite work. It will
give you the relief that doing something with your
hands means, and according to reports, they are
terribly needed.
Shawns Creek^ September 24, 1915
I feel this way about the American situation. All
summer, as one by one the various crises arose
and were smothered, I hoped that some definite
lead would come; something that an American
could stand by and say, "This is my country's
decision, I must abide by it." But after all these
months the country has made evident only one de-
termination, that of avoiding the issue as long as
possible. Well, I think there is no question but
that the issue can be avoided until affairs are set-
tled in Europe. The Powers that are looking for an
outlet on this continent cannot give it attention now,
although the intention seems clear enough. Amer-
15
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
ica will not escape. We are very much involved,
but I do not think the danger is imminent. How
can people be so oblivious ? How can a half cen-
tury have made a nation who sacrificed her^boys for
the purest principle ever fought for, so desirous of
nothing but safety and comfort?
Bala^ September 30, 1915
The work here is finished. There was some talk
of putting in two additional piers, but it has been
decided against, I am glad to say, for I think it
would have spoiled the proportions. I am going in
to Toronto, where I have a few construction plans
to finish up, then up here for a final inspection
Monday or Tuesday, and then, I hope, home.
Toronto^ October 2, 1915
I have wonderful news. I have been accepted, the
thing we have wanted and prayed for so long ; and
in the Engineers, where the work will be construc-
tive, as you wanted so much. I will tell you just
how it happened. I made up my mind I would go
to the armories this afternoon and do my best to
get in. I went in and asked where to go to join,
and was directed to a room upstairs which was
full of people, principally sergeant majors, by the
amount of chevrons. I went up to one and said
that I wanted to enlist, and he asked me what regi-
16
LETTERS FROM CANADA
ment. I said I did n't know, and asked him if there
were any engineers recruiting. He said "yes,"
and directed me down about a half a dozen cor-
ridors.
In the last corridor a soldier was standing, writ-
ing something on the wall. I asked him if he could
tell me which room was the engineers' office, —
there are no signs, — and he said, "Which en-
gineers do you wish to join, the Pioneers ? ' ' Then
I saw that he was an officer, captain or lieutenant,
I do not know which. I must have looked blank,
not knowing what varieties of engineers there were.
So he took me into a room and began to tell me
about the Pioneers. It is a regiment formed to do
all kinds of construction work, railroads, high-
ways, trenches, sanitary sewer work in camps,
etc., just exactly the thing we thought of. He said
there was going to be lots of hard work swinging
a pick, probably, and the likes of that, and the
men are a rough crowd, tradesmen of all sorts,
carpenters, masons, plumbers, pipe-layers.
Well, as he talked, I almost grew sick, because
it was so exactly the thing I longed for, and I was
sure I could n't pass the eye test. So I said, * ' That
just suits me, if I can only pass the physical ex-
amination." He said, "There won't be much
trouble about that by the look of you." I had left
my spectacles at home. He saw that I was a uni-
17
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
versity man, and said that I had a good chance to
become a non-commissioned officer. Then he took
me to the recruiting-room and I was given my
application papers and went up to the doctor. You
can imagine that I was nervous by that time.
I stripped and went to the doctor after they had
measured me up. The first thing he did was to
ask me to read letters on a card across the room,
and of course the letters on the last line were just
too small for me to read ; they jumped and danced,
and strain as I would I just could n't see them. I
told him I was nervous, so he gave me plenty of
time and switched me over to a card by the win-
dow instead of the electric light. Finally, I blurted
out a guess. I was not sure whether I was any-
where near right. Anyway, he thought it over and
said he thought he would give me a chance ; the
rest of my physical condition was good, and he
wrote down my physical development and fitness as
good ; and of course my teeth are all right. So he
gave me a passed certificate. I could hardly be-
lieve it.
After that, we went from one room to another
where there were a number of recruits for other
regiments, signing papers, and finally were sworn
in. So now I am actually a soldier. I was at the
armories over two hours, and have just come back
to write this. When it is written and mailed I
18
LETTERS FROM CANADA
will wire. Does n't it seem like Providence again,
mother, after all the waiting and the work at
Shaw's Creek just nicely finished up ? Much love,
dearest mother, to you and father, and thank you
both for making me feel that I can do this with
your blessing.
II
LETTERS FROM THE FLANDERS
FRONT
In the beauty of the lilies Christ was bom across the sea^
With a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me :
As He died to make men holy^ let us die to make men free.
II
LETTERS FROM THE FLANDERS
FRONT
France^ March 8, 1916
Dear Father :
We arrived here early this morning, but did not
disembark until daylight. The trip across was
very smooth. I slept most of the time, but as far
as I can see no one at all w^as sick. Rather a
pleasant surprise, for every one expected it to be
rough. I can't tell you the name of the place,
though I do not suppose you vrill have much
trouble guessing. We are in camp about five
miles outside the city. Twelve men to a tent
about half the size of the old National Guard
tents at Sea Girt.
We are only here temporarily, but where we
go or when, I do not know and could n't tell you
if I did. It is rather hard to write under this cen-
sor system ; I suppose I will get used to it. I am
on the city piquet to-night, so I am looking for-
ward to seeing the city under more comfortable cir-
cumstances than I did this a.m., during the march,
when the weight of the pack on back and shoul-
23
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
ders was enough to crack a man's spine; though
this morning, even, I was so interested most of
the time that I forgot I was being tortured. It
is still fairly cold, but the snow is melting. I hope
it will soon be warm so that we can discard over-
coats and have one less thing to carry.
This is really just a note to let you know that
I am safe in France. I will write a decent letter
as soon as I get turned round. Much love to
mother.
Your son,
Edwin
March 11, 1916
Dearest Mother :
We are at the front much sooner than we ex-
pected. I wrote father from France on the 8 th,
but I do not know whether he wdll get it, for I did
not put any stamp on it. They tell me now that
to go through it is best to put " via Canada " on
the envelope, or else put on some English stamps,
and I have not any. Be sure and tell me whether
these letters without stamps get through all right,
and when you write, enclose an envelope and paper
for an answer, because it may be hard to get
paper. One thing I need is a good strong jack-
knife with one blade and a can-opener blade. I
have lost mine and cannot get hold of one here.
24
LETTERS FROM FLANDERS
Our billet is right on one of the main commu-
nication roads running back of the line, and it is
interesting to watch the traffic that goes by. There
is a constant stream of transports, dispatch riders,
and parties of infantry going in and out of the
trenches. The transports are of every possible de-
scription, starting with big motor trucks and com-
ing down to little carts. To-day I even saw one
of the London motor busses with the winding
staircase in the back. It is certainly an interest-
ing place to be, and Belgium, or this part of it, is
like the pictures in the Sunday papers. It is rather
hard to write an interesting letter under the cen-
soring conditions, because one is constantly think-
ing of interesting things to say and then cannot
say them. It is late now, so I must stop, but I
will write often, and, as I get more settled, will
do better.
March 14, 1916
Dearest Mother :
I have not got quite settled for letter writing.
I do hope these will reach you all right. As soon
as I can get some English stamps I will put them
on my letters and make assurance doubly sure. I
wrote you Saturday evening just before we went
up to the trenches for the first time. . . .
I am short of time, for lights go out here at
25
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
eight o'clock, but I will get off a good letter before
the end of the week. Everything is fine and we
were lucky to get here so quickly. Much love to
you both.
March 19, 1916
Dearest Mother :
I have finally gotten a green envelope, which
will let my letters be censored at the base, so I can
write without feeling that my own officers are read-
ing the letter, which is uncomfortable.
I am going to start with our leaving Hazeley
Down, and try to give you a consecutive narrative
up to the present. We started out about 7 a.m. on
Tuesday, the 7th, as you know, and marched to
our port of embarkation in England. We carried
all our worldly possessions on our backs, which is
an uncomfortable operation. It was a very cold
morning when we started, and a slight snow had
turned into ice on the road, making walking very
difficult. At noon we halted for lunch, and it started
to snow, thick, heavy, wet flakes which had us
soaked through in half an hour and lasted all the
afternoon. We arrived in the steamboat sheds at
about 3 P.M. , pretty well done up with the
hard marching and heavy load and the wet. There
was a refreshment stand in the shed, where they
sold hot coffee and buns, and it was the storm
26
LETTERS FROM FLANDERS
centre of a riot in about five minutes. I managed
to get two mugs of coffee and half a dozen buns,
so was very comfortable.
We stayed around the shed until about 6 and
then went aboard the steamer and sailed about 6.30.
The steamer was a low gray boat, somewhat the
shape of the Sandy Hook boats, only smaller, and
it travelled like an express train. I was never on a
boat that cut through the water at such speed. It
was dark, of course, when we started, and cold. I
stayed on deck an hour or so, and got some sup-
per of ' ' bully -beef ' ' (canned beef pressed) , biscuit,
and tea. We were distributed about the ship in
various cabins, etc., so that there was room to lie
down, but no floor space to spare if you did.
It was cold enough to wake one up after sleep-
ing an hour or so, even wearing an overcoat and
all. I slept for an hour or two, and, when I woke up
stiff and cold, wandered about the boat until I got
warmed up, and then went to sleep again. After
one of these sleeps, about 1 a.m., I guess, I
woke up and went on deck and found that we
were tied up to a dock. I always imagined that a
Channel passage was very rough, but certainly it
was n't by our course, for I never even felt a mo-
tion. The dock and harbor were brightly lighted
and searchlights were flashing around. I noticed
then that the deck was seven or eight feet above
27
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
the dock, but when we landed at seven o'clock,
the deck was away below the dock, about ten feet,
I should think, a tremendous tide.
I went to sleep again, and, after several more
hours of discomfort, managed to get some hot tea
from the second-class pantry, which put a fresh
face on affairs. Shortly after that, we got our own
breakfast of tea, cheese, and biscuits, the latter to
last us for lunch with a tin of bully-beef. As the
dawn broke, I watched the city grow into form,
just as I had Plymouth about five months earlier,
and it was just as satisfying to see this new coun-
try take the expected shape. The buildings were
tall and thin, white with green shutters and little
balconies. One could make out the signs on the
shops and see people walking along the streets;
and soon the street cars began to run.
At seven o'clock we disembarked and marched
through the city, at first the docks and railway
yards. In some of the latter there were German
prisoners w^orking, unloading cars under French
guards. The latter were quite picturesque with
long black beards, light blue frock coats, and guns
with bayonets about a yard long. The Germans
looked rather indifferent, or at any rate non-com-
mittal. They wore the little round caps you see in
pictures. The central part of the city was very
pretty, and it was interesting to see the people,
28
LETTERS FROM FLANDERS
though the few men seemed to be soldiers as in
England. I say few, because it was a large city.
There were thousands of small boys who ran
along and held our hands and begged insistently
and continually for '' Bees-keet," occasionally va-
rying with ''cigarette," evidently aware that the
British soldier usually carries a ration of biscuits
with him and is inclined to give them away,
rather than sacrifice his teeth in the effort to nib-
ble a corner off for nourishment. Some seemed
dressed very prettily, and it was surprising to see
them running loose ; then they graded off to the
typical urchin, but not miserable at all, happy and
laughing. The invariable costume was a smock
sort of apron tied behind ; their legs were bare,
and some wore sabots and Tam-o'-Shanter caps.
When we got through the city, we climbed up
a long high bluff at the rear of the town and made
our way to the camp ; about a five-mile journey
altogether, with a hard hill. It grew warm and
our overcoats got unbearable before we arrived, so
we took them off and carried them, en bandouliere^
which increased our load to the elastic limit of the
spine, I think. We arrived at the camp about
eleven and got a good wash and stayed there until
night. At 8.30 we started back to the city, and
about midnight were loaded into a train at the
freight station. There were thirty-three of us in
29
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
a box car about half the size of an American box
car, so that when we found room for our equip-
ment, there was n't room to lie on the floor, even
like sardines, to sleep. I was in the car with the
bugle band, and that meant about six kettle-drums
and a bass-drum to accommodate.
The train travelled through France all day Thurs-
day. The country was interesting to watch. There
were lots of French soldiers, and we went by
many camps, but no city that I knew, no large
city at all. We had cheese and biscuits and
bully-beef to eat, and at two stations hot tea was
passed in. We reached our destination about mid-
night, Thursday, and as soon as we got off" the
train we could hear the big guns and have heard
them ever since ; but now one is so accustomed to
them that it blends in with ordinary noises, like
the surf at the seashore. We had a march of about
four miles to a hut camp, not Hazeley Down
huts, by a long shot, but real huts, half buried in
the ground, protection from shell lire. We piled
into these so tired we could hardly move, and
slept until well into the next morning. There was
not much water visible, so I washed in the snow
and we got some more biscuit, bully-beef, and tea.
At two o'clock, *' B " Company fell in and we
moved again, this time only a couple of miles up
the road to a billet in the barn of a farmhouse.
30
LETTERS FROM FLANDERS
There was plenty of straw and we were fixed up
comfortably. Saturday morning we spent fixing
up the billets, and at five o'clock we started out to
the trenches. We went right out to the front line,
— Canadian front, of course, — and helped a com-
pany of engineers building a support trench about
thirty or forty yards back of the front trenches.
This was March 11th, so I was in the front line
trenches just five months and nine days after I
enlisted. That is not a very long wait.
We are to receive our training right here, work-
ing for a month with the engineers and then tak-
ing over their work. Sunday night we went in
again on the same work. Monday, I was sent
back to our base camp of huts to attend a school
of trench construction, with part of the company,
and we have been working all this week building
trenches and fortifications for the third line way
back from the line of fire, under the instruction
of experienced engineers. I expect that most of
my platoon will be here next week, too, and I may
stay on, but after that we will be back at the real
work, strengthening and repairing the front line.
The weather for the last week has been beauti-
ful, warm, and sunny, and the snow has long
since disappeared. I am in fine health and look-
ing forward to an interesting spring. The chief
thing I need is letter paper (it is hard to get), and
31
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
tooth-cleaning accessories every six weeks or so.
I wrote to father on the 8 th and to you on the
11th, 16th, and to-day. I hope they will arrive
safely. I will try to write regularly, and you must
know how eagerly I look for mail. Papers of any
sort are very welcome. They are hard to get
hold of.
March 21, 1916
Dear Father :
As I guess you know from my letters by now, I
have reached the scene of action and am taking my
humble part in the operations. Since I have been
here, I have had three letters from you and five
from mother, all forwarded, of course, from Haze-
ley Down. The mail service here is marvellous —
incoming and outgoing every day ; and I do not
think so far as my receiving is concerned, that there
will be any additional delay. To-day is the twelfth
of my sojourn in this country and the tenth since
my first visit to the trenches. We arrived in the
small hours of a Friday morning after a twenty-four-
hour run, cramped up in one of those little French
box cars, and after marching three or four miles
were glad to turn into a temporary camp of huts,
throw off" our packs, which had gained several
pounds weight with every step, and get to sleep.
The whole battalion was so dead tired that even
32
LETTERS FROM FLANDERS
the fact that we could hear the guns from the mo-
ment we tumbled out of the train, failed to stimu-
late us.
I woke up about 8 a.m. and turned out of the
hut to see how the land lay. The camp was at the
side of one of the big main roads that divide this
country up almost like a big city, they are so reg-
ular, although it is nothing but farm land. They
are lined with very regular, tall elms with the
branches trimmed about thirty feet above the
ground and that stand out very prominently, be-
cause there are few trees, practically none, else-
where; and are paved continuously with Belgian
blocks, which are all right for transports, but make
marching a nightmare. We were on a rise and the
country stretched out almost flat in every direction,
dotted with farmhouses with thatched or red-tiled
roofs and windmills. In the distance, one could
make out the spires and other indications of a fairly
large city.
I followed some other men into a little cottage
at the side of the road, and got a cup of black
coffee and some coarse bread and butter for tup-
pence. There was still a lot of snow on the ground,
and as search failed to produce a pump or well,
I washed the railway dirt off as well as I could
with that. About eleven, our cooks managed to
make a little tea and we were served with hard-
33
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
tack, bully-beef, and cheese. At 2 p.m. B Com-
pany lined up again with kits packed and resumed
the march, leaving the rest of the battalion to its
fate. B Company was the first to get away and
the first in the trenches. We marched up the road
a few miles and were put into a billet, the barn of
a big farmhouse, with lots of straw on the floor
and in the loft. We were told that there would be
no more duty that day, and it did n't take me very
long to get into the straw again and roll off about
ten more hours of sleep.
Saturday we spent the morning cleaning up the
billet, and at 4.30 in the afternoon we fell in with
guns, ammunition, and spades and started for the
trenches. On the way we picked up a party of
engineers who took us in charge. It was good and
dark when we came up to the line, and the Ger-
mans had started their nightly illumination with
star shells, something like rockets, only they burst
into one luminous ball, instead of stars, which is so
brilliant that it lights up the surrounding ground
with a glare like a searchlight, and floats down
slowly, burning brightly for several seconds after
it reaches the ground. We send them up, too, but
ours are not nearly so bright and often fizzle. These
stars go up continuously, all along the line as far
as you can see, so you can imagine the effect as
one approaches. You feel as though you were puU-
34
LETTERS FROM FLANDERS
ing into Manhattan Beach or Atlantic City on the
Fourth.
It was n't long before we were in the communi-
cation trench that leads out to the front line. You
have seen hundreds of pictures of the trenches and
read the descriptions, but it certainly was thrilling
to be actually in. The trenches in this part of the
line have been pretty well perfected. It is well over
the height of a man from the bottom to the top of
the parapets, so that there is no stooping to be
done, and the bottom is floored with "trench-
mats," a sort of latticed board walk lifted up off
the ground on stakes, so that the water or mud
underneath does not matter. The bottoms, of
course, are sloped toward any available low point
for drainage. The sides of the trench are revetted
with screens of chicken wire over canvas, which
is quickly put up and fairly permanent in good
weather, and the top two or three feet is built of
sand bags to prevent crumbling on the edge.
My candle has only half a second left, so I will
have to stop and finish to-morrow.
March 22
The trenches twist and turn so, a precaution
against enfilade fire in the event of the enemy's
occupying any position, that we seemed to walk
miles before we reached our destination. It was a
35
AN American soldier
new support trench about forty yards back of the
front line. Saturday night I was on a " carrying
party," whose duty was to carry timber, wire, etc.,
from a material pile to the working party. Sunday
.night we went in again and I was in a digging-
gang. Some of the new work had fallen in and
we had to remove the sand bags and dig down in
front of the screens and push the latter out, wire
them back, fill up behind them, and put back the
bags. It sounds simple enough, but the digging
was the worst I ever struck. Sticky mud that
clings to your shovel, so that you can only get rid
of one shovel full out of every three, and that by
effort. After two or three hours of it, I am all in
and ready to admit it. We usually work from
sundown till about midnight, although whatever
task is given has to be finished.
Monday morning I was sent back to our first
camp, which has been made battalion headquarters,
and sent to a school of trench construction with
a detail from the company. We spent the week
building different sorts of trenches and dug-outs
under the instruction of N.C.O.'s from the engi-
neers and infantry battalions, who have been doing
the work for the last year. This week my platoon
is at the school, so the few of us who went last
week are staying on at the camp, doing guard and
fatigues. I am on guard now. Next Monday we
36
LETTERS FROM FLANDERS
will go back to our billets and work and let another
platoon take the instruction course.
One of the chief interests here on clear days is
to watch the aeroplanes. Sometimes the sky is full
of them and a good proportion are German. Our
aircraft guns shell them, and one can watch the
shells burst around them. They get pretty close, but
I never saw one hit. When they get overhead, the
shells, or bits of them, drop around you, which is
uncomfortable.
The weather was fine last week, warm and
sunny every day ; but it is raining again. I will
be glad to get any newspapers you can send. The
only news here consists of rumors that travel up
and down the line and grow like the black crows
in the Second Reader. Whenever you write, en-
close envelope and paper for an answer. It is hard
to get anything in that line here.
You know by this time that the draft came
through all right. I have not touched any of it yet,
and do not think I will for the present. We are
getting a franc a day, which is sufficient to eke
out rations with fried eggs and coffee at the cook-
shops along the road.
I am glad the badges reached you all right.
They were designed by one of the officers. Our
musketry was rather rough and ready. None of
the fine points you speak of. We are always
37
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
supposed to carry guns, but I do not think we will
have much opportunity to use them. Our main
aim is to get our work done, attracting the least
attention possible.
March 25, 1916
Dearest Mother :
I have had five letters from you since I have
been here, dated February 22d and 29th, March 1st,
1st, and 3d, the last four together. You can im-
agine what it was for me to have them in this
strange place and experience, for certainly it is
that. The letter you wrote speaking of the Sacra-
ment was the one I liked the best, I mean was
especially a help, for I had been wondering how I
could ever manage it here. Of course, there are
occasional Roman churches, but that is all, and
of course, now we are on active service, always
on duty, bounds are short and strict, and one's
time is seldom one's own ; but you have taken all
that anxiety from me. Were I in one of the Eng-
lish regiments, I know that opportunity would be
made, for I suppose one of the most notable things
in all this war has been the earnest, brave, and
never ceasing work of the English chaplains.
My two weeks back of the line end to-day. It
is four o'clock now, and at six we start for the
trenches. This time we are to stay right in them,
38
LETTERS FROM FLANDERS
working day and night for about three days, as the
infantry does. It has been a good rest. The hard
journey here and quick and uninterrupted heavy
work at the end was a test of endurance. Now
that I have been back and doing work with no rush
or strain attached to it I am refreshed in every way
and looking forward to a real start.
You remember I sent a bundle to Aunt Gertrude,
extra socks, etc. Well, I had bad luck. I allowed
four pairs, which really was lots ; but one pair
failed to come back from the wash just before I
left, and the second day here I was drying two
pairs in front of a fire, and managed to burn holes
in the bottoms of one pair, and one of the other
pair disappeared while hanging on the line, which
brought me down to one pair. There was a lot of
walking to be done in water and mud, so that
was n't enough. I wrote to H. and Aunt G. both,
and the day before yesterday I had a wonderful
package from H., with three fine pairs of socks,
and things to eat ; and yesterday, another splendid
package from Aunt G., with cake, chocolate, and
the socks, three pairs ; so now I have seven pairs,
all splendid, and my feet are cared for, for a long
time to come. Miss McM. and Mr. B. just wrote
that some are on the way from each, so I will
hardly be able to carry them all.
People seem to be sending me too many things,
39
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
but I will tell you the special things I want : tooth-
paste and brush as often as you think they are
needed, and sometimes a towel or a comb. These
things are hard to buy, and keeping clean is the
one nearly impossible thing. I will tell you of
things when I need them. There are no shops
here, save those that sell eatables of different sorts.
We had lovely weather last week, but this has
been stormy and cold. Last night and the night
before very cold, and yesterday driving snow,
which turned the world white again. However,
to-day the temperature rose tremendously, and
now the afternoon sun is shining brightly on ground
bare of snow and drying rapidly.
There was one letter that I received here among
the first, I forgot to tell you: a colored picture
of a soldier, with '* from Billy" printed on the
back. To think that that dear little fellow should
have been one of the first to greet me here at the
front !
All last week I did sentry duty on the big road.
It seemed strange to be there under the stars, in
sound of the nightly guns, and challenging the
Allies' soldiers as they passed.
The time is getting on, and I must go and get
my cheese and bread and tea for supper. Dearest
mother, your letters are such a joy. I will try to
write often, and, as time goes on, share the expe-
40
LETTERS FROM FLANDERS
riences with you and father. I am in fine health
and spirits, and facing the work ahead with a
good heart. Good-bye for a little time, dearest
riiother.
March 30, 1916
Dearest Mother:
Your letter of March 10th, and one from Phil-
lips, each enclosing a picture, came on Tuesday.
I liked the one you enclosed the best. They are
both beautiful, and yet I think that he could have
done better. There is an inside glint of warmth
and sweetness that the little man on Ninth Street
caught and Phillips seemed to miss. Still, I love
them and will always keep them with me.
I wrote you on Saturday, and Saturday night
we went into the trenches for two days, acting as
infantry, coming out again on Monday night.
Part of our training, I suppose, to teach us the
actual use of the trenches. It was long enough to
make me think that the infantry deserves most of
the credit of the war. They usually go in for three
days at a time, and then are out for three days,
though sometimes the shifts are longer. While
they are in, they are practically on duty all the
time, and much of their duty exposes them to rifle
and shell fire ; then there is the prospect of a shell-
ing at almost any time. The trenches we were in
41
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
were dry, but they must have been terrible last
winter, for they say the water was often over the
tops of their high boots. I suppose the German
trenches, where we were, were about a hundred
yards away, but they looked very near.
Now we are billeted at another farm and go out
on working parties every night, as before. It has
been quite cold, but to-day was sunny and warmer,
and I think good weather is coming. This morning
we were marched to a neighboring town and given
a warm bath and clean underclothes. The first bath
I have had since I left Hazeley Down, and I cer-
tainly was glad to get it. I put on the extra under-
wear and shirt that I brought with me. The clothes
that are given out are washed, but not very thor-
oughly, and are often infested, so it is just as well
not to take them. If you have not given away my
underclothes, it would be a comfort, if you would
send me a suit now and then, one every month, for I
do not think that we will get a bath oftener than
that. If you have given them away, don't buy good
ones, but get the cheapest you can, for I just throw
away the ones I take off. There is no place to get
them washed, and no water to do my own wash-
ing, for it is very hot here in the summer, and
water of any kind is scarce.
There does not seem to be much news. I have
only had your letter and father's since my last.
42
LETTERS FROM FLANDERS
Everything is going well with me and I am quite
happy. The Government has stopped the issue of
the green uncensored envelopes for a month, which
means that I will have to save up the intimate
things that one does n't wish other people to read.
France^ April 1, 1916
Dearest Mother :
This is just a little note to greet you on the first
of the month. It has been a beautiful, glorious day,
with the bright sun and clear blue sky and the
fresh spring feeling in the air. Your letter with en-
closure of Dean S. came just a little while ago, and
I am going to send it back to you in this. It is a
wonderful letter. I am glad to have the pictures
and like them. It seemed to me that they made
me look as old as I should, but much more than I
do. I am going to write to father this afternoon,
but if I take this right in, I can catch a mail that
leaves to-night which I can't with his. I will write
you a real letter to-morrow or the next day. Much
love.
France^ April 1, 1916
Dear Father :
Your letter of March 10th came last Tuesday.
And to-day, one from mother, dated March 17th.
I wrote a little note to her to-day. Quite a lot of
43
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
things have happened since my last letter, but the
chief thing is that we went into the front line as
infantry for two days and so feel that we are really
initiated. We took the regular turns of sentry
duty, and the whole experience was worth having,
although not at all pleasant. The German lines, at
the point we occupied, were about one hundred
yards from ours and very much in view, — the
parapet of their trench, that is, not the men.
Trench warfare has for its chief principle keeping
out of sight, and both sides are pretty expert at it.
Snipers have both sides pretty well covered, and
it is not safe to keep your head up very long, when
on watch. Fifteen or twenty seconds is lots.
At night, both sides send out patrols and work-
ing parties under cover of the darkness, but the
star shells make them stick pretty close to cover.
The land for about half a mile back of the trenches
is a desolate area. The few trees or buildings left
are shattered to within a few feet of the ground
with shell fire, and the ground is pitted with cra-
ters and shell holes. I must admit that when our
time came to go out, I was more than ready to obey
the order. Even without the exchange of compli-
ments which is growing more continuous and fre-
quent with the spring the place is calculated to
dampen the spirits of a confirmed optimist.
Since Wednesday we have been billeted at
44
LETTERS FROM FLANDERS
another farm, going into the trenches at night on
working parties. The longer one is here, the clearer
things get, and of course it is much easier to work
and more interesting if one can get an idea of what
the authorities are driving at. We have not been
long enough yet to understand much, but there
seems to be more of a plan than appeared at first.
It would be a great help if I could get hold of a
map of the district, but that, of course, is impos-
sible. I have asked Aunt Gertrude to send me a
small war map if she can ; the sort you get at news
stands. I do not know why I did not think of
bringing one. I wish I could tell you the places we
go to, so that you would have the interest of fol-
lowing me around on a map.
There are few stores here. One can get things
like oranges, chocolate, etc., but that is about the
limit. Sometimes we get into small towns, but even
there, the stock in the stores is very meagre.^ Noth-
ing much that one wants to buy, excepting eatables.
The people in this part of the country are all peas-
ants, apparently, even in the towns. It is astonish-
ing the way they stick to their homes in the firing
zone, women and children going around uncon-
cernedly and men working in the fields . Often shells
burst in the field they are ploughing.
The weather this week has been beautiful, warm
and sunny. I hope spring has come to stay. I am
45
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
anxious to see what they are doing in Mexico,
and the Presidential news, for I haven't seen a
newspaper for nearly a week. Be sure to send me
a paper occasionally. I think the United States
gets the best news, any way. Your letters are always
welcome. It is very cheering to have the mail man
pass things out.
Flanders^ April 3, 1916
Dearest Mother :
I did not half answer your letter of March 17th
in my little note on the 1st. You don't know
how much a letter means out here. It seems to
put a new face on everything. Yours came Sat-
urday, and one, from father, written on the same
day, came to me to-day. He said that you had
just received a Toronto paper telling of our de-
parture from England. By this time you may pos-
sibly have my letter written from here on the 11th,
although I know the Western mails are very slow.
The pictures weren't much of a success, I am
afraid. I do not think that I have changed so much
as it would seem. However, perhaps there will be
an opportunity for better ones later on. Yours were
a little disappointing at first, but I like them more
and see more in them every time I look, which I
suppose is the proof of Phillips's real worth. He
has gone below. Instead of the picture I had before,
46
LETTERS FROM FLANDERS
now I can really see you. I am glad that you are
feeling and keeping well.
You asked me to tell you what time we got
up, and that is rather hard. When we are at the
base, as we are now, reveille is usually 5.30 and
breakfast at 7 ; but when we are working in the
trenches at night, and do not finish until after
midnight, we are allowed to sleep until 8.30 or 9
o'clock. If we are working at a distance from our
billet, there is generally a hard march after the
work is done, which uses one up. Now the whole
battalion is in a big camp at a different part of the
line from that in which we were. We moved in
yesterday, and I do not know how long we are to
stay or what our next work will be.
The last two days have been quite hot, as
though April really intended to be spring. The
mud has dried up in many of the wet places, so
that uncomfortable part is nearly over. I do not
think that I will need any socks. H. has sent me
five pairs. Aunt G. the three I left with her, and
Mrs. B., in Guelph, two pairs; and with the one
good pair I had, eleven should last for a long
time. It is really a great deal to carry around.
Probably I will have more from Canada before
these are done. If I should ever be stuck, I would
write to H. and get more very quickly, for she
can get them where she is. If you will send me
47
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
the cheap, thin underclothes once a month, and
occasionally toilet things, I will tell you what I
need, or want, rather, from time to time. What
I want most now is a case to hold my toilet things
in, for I have lost mine.
Do you remember the army store where father
used to get me khaki trousers and shirts. I won-
der if you couldn't get a shirt there occasionally
and send with the other things. Remember, noth-
ing good ; but it will give me a clean change oc-
casionally without depending on these Govern-
ment things. I expect hot weather is ahead.
Another thing that would add to my comfort, if
father could pick up a pair of riding or infantry
breeches. They are the most comfortable things
to wear with puttees. This, however, is going to
extremes. Really, I have everything I need, and
I am not strong on adding to my wardrobe, for it
is impossible to keep anything in decent shape ;
and the tendency is to throw away everything that
is not absolutely necessary, so you won't have to
carry it around. The H.'s' bundle came, and the
best thing in it were your handkerchiefs, for that
is what I badly needed. The good white handker-
chiefs that you sent, I left in my bundle with
Aunt G. The things you send will always be
what I want most, and I will always tell you what
I need. So far as eating and general comforts go,
48
LETTERS FROM FLANDERS
you can rest easy that I am all right; conditions
have been greatly improved since the beginning of
the war. Keeping clean is really the one difficulty
and that can be overcome. Now I must stop for
a while.
France^ April 9, 1916
Dearest Mother :
Your package came the day before yesterday,
and it was like a breath from home, especially the
little towels. They are incongruous with the sur-
roundings, but it is the sort of incongruity that
cheers one up with the realization that all these
hard conditions are only temporary and the other
is the goal we are working our way to. You seem
to have thought of everything ; the shoestrings and
menders and pins are almost invaluable. And the
former makes me think of something else, insoles,
unknown here. At least, one can never find any
stores that have them. They are wonderfully help-
ful in heavy boots. My size is 1^,
Then the toothbrush; I have n't felt so revived
for weeks as when I started off with it yesterday
morning. You know the prophylactic and its imi-
tations have apparently found no place in the
English markets — perhaps, owing to the sup-
posed indifference of the English public in general
to dental matters. I did my best to get one in
49
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
Winchester, which has two splendid drug-stores,
but the very best was the old flat kind ; so it has
been a long time since I have had the comfort of
feeling satisfactorily clean. The cold cream and
cucumber jelly are going to be fine, too. I re-
member Mrs. H. telling about O.'s disgust when
some one sent him a cake of soap ; but I will have
to admit that keeping halfway clean is my one
comfort, and it is a hard job. You seem to have
sent me just the right things. Perhaps a little
later I will have to ask for insect powder.
The chocolate and peppermint were enjoyed to
the last mouthful. I can remember at home I
would n't walk across the room for candy ; but
anything good to eat here is a luxury. Rations
are good though, and sufficient, but not any more
than that, and one usually has a pretty healthy ap-
petite most of the time. We get bacon for break-
fast and stew for dinner, as a rule ; and tea twice
a day. That tea is as precious as gold, and it is
good, too. Good tea, condensed milk, and sugar.
Drinking water is scarce, and one does n't like to
use much under any conditions. Then we get jam
and cheese and butter and bread and, occasionally,
canned beef and hard- tack. Every once in a while,
your stomach turns against one or the other of the
commodities — stew, usually ; but if you forego it
for a day or two, the taste comes back again.
50
LETTERS FROM FLANDERS
There is usually one or several cottages in the
neighborhood of a camp, where one can get fried
eggs and coffee and oranges and chocolate, etc. ;
but to tell you the truth, my stomach turns against
the eggs and coffee as often as against the army
rations. There is something unappetizing in the
way of cooking ; and the places are not always as
spotless as they might be. The coffee would be
unrecognizable in America, equally at home or in
Dennet's : strong, bitter, and peculiar.
The parcel was dated March 24th, so it only
took a scant two weeks to get here ; but the last
letter I had was, I think, the 17th, so there must
be some others on the way. Still, it would be won-
derful if they were not held up sometimes. I have
been very fortunate, for every parcel sent me has
come through on time, and lots of the boys' are
either very late or lost, and this is the first week
I can remember that I have had no letter or packet
of letters from you. Aunt G. sent me another
package yesterday, with apples and chocolate and
rusk, so I have been wonderfully lucky in that
way, with food two days' running. Of course,
things are always to be passed around when they
come.
We are in tents now, and they are very com-
fortable. The weather is gradually getting warmer
and brighter. The chaplain had an open-air serv-
51
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
ice to-day, and I could see them being held in
some other camps near, one of which rejoiced in a
band. O.'s battalion is camped only a few fields
away, but he is not back yet, for I asked one of
the men.
We are doing some very interesting work now,
building an entirely new trench to replace one de-
stroyed in a bombardment. Yesterday morning we
did not get back until four o'clock, and this morn-
ing it was 5.30. Broad daylight when we reached
camp. Of course, that was because we had quite
a long march from the place where we are work-
ing. Every day, as one sees into the work a little
more, it becomes more interesting and easier to do.
I hope I will be able to get the enthusiasm and
determination that the H. boys have.
I wish I could give you an idea of this camp,
as I sit here writing, outside the tent. It is so typ-
ically a part of the war. The tents are in rows and
streets, of course, but pretty well spread apart in
these days of aeroplanes and long-distance shelling.
Then standing about are the transports and water
wagons. The wagons are just bringing in the day's
supplies with a lot of bustle and urging of mules,
and the field kitchens are sending up a cloud of
smoke, for it is nearly tea-time. Soldiers are in
every direction and military impedimenta in piles
and around the tents. In the distance the flat land-
52
LETTERS FROM FLANDERS
scape spreads out with other camps and farmhouses
and windmills. Overhead is the hum of an aero-
plane: sometimes so high up it is only a speck,
and sometimes quite close down. You can usually
tell the enemy's planes when they are over our
lines, because they are surrounded by puffs of smoke
which follow them just ahead, or just behind, —
the shells of our aircraft guns bursting. The big
guns sometimes boom steadily for hours, but just
now they are quiet.
Some mail has come in on one of the wagons.
Perhaps your letters are in it, but they will not be
distributed until to-morrow, and I want to mail
this now. Mail is the brightest, happiest, most
longed-for, expected, and appreciated thing in all
this country. You can't know how much pleasure
the parcel gave me ; it was so full of your thought
of me. Good-bye now for a while, and much love.
April 12, 1916
Dear Father :
Yesterday I had a family mail. Two letters
from you, March 20th and 24th, one from mother,
March 24th, and one from Sue, March 23d. It is
funny that mother's parcel mailed at the same time
reached me on Friday, five days ago. It only shows
that one cannot depend too much. The shoe-laces
and menders were fine, and very valuable addi-
53
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
tions to my kit. I re-sewed all the buttons on my
tunic with one of the latter, yesterday. It was the
new tunic I received just before leaving Hazeley,
and the buttons were tacked on with sugar-bag
string. Three of them were off and the other eight
were hanging by a thread. I have also learned to
darn socks. There is plenty to occupy one's time;
but lately we have had very little time.
Last Friday we started to work on a section
of trenches that have been pretty well ruined in
recent bombardments, and have been out every
night, seldom getting back before five or six in
the morning. It is a bad piece of work, and I
will be glad to see the end of it. We are under
canvas now and very comfortable until to-day.
There has been a high wind and driving rain
since early morning, and we have had our hands
full trying to keep the tent together, and fairly
dry inside. However, it is all part of the life, and
it is surprising how one can keep comfortable in
spite of things. We each have two good blankets,
and at present are wrapped up in them.
There are nine of us in the tent, six English-
men, two Canucks, and a U.S.A. One of the
cockneys has produced a mandolin from some-
where, — I never saw it before to-day, — and is
amusing us with some old tunes. It is funny how
men of different sorts manage to chum together
54
LETTERS FROM FLANDERS
under circumstances of this sort. Two of the
Englishmen are young fellows, as nice as any I
have ever known; one the son of an English
Church clergyman, and I guess of very good fam-
ily. Two of them are pronounced cockneys, with
the humorous disposition and tongue of Sam Wel-
ler. One is a big chap from the coal-pit district
around Newcastle, alternately pleasant and dis-
agreeable, and one a young farmer from York-
shire. All of course have been in Canada for a
certain length of time. The two Canadians are
young fellows who have been working on con-
struction gangs, and are good companions.
The few English papers that one gets hold of
occasionally have nothing at all in them about the
Mexican situation. If it were not for your letters,
I would not know anything at all about it. I am
looking forward to seeing a ' ' North American ' '
when you send it. There should be no trouble in
getting it through, for I have had several Toronto
papers, and the men are getting them all the time.
A sergeant stuck his head into the tent awhile
ago and told us that we did not have to go out to-
night. Well, I can remember rejoicing at school
when holidays were announced, but I do not think
such news then was any more welcome than now.
We are pretty well done up with work, and a
good night's sleep will freshen us up. We have
55
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
had supper, stew that I enjoyed, and tea, and I
am fixed up comfortably in my blankets with two
candles on a biscuit box, shielded from the draft
by my tin shrapnel helmet, for illumination. The
tent flap is fastened down and everything cosy.
I hope T. R. will start stirring things round for
November. For one, I am looking for the United
States to take an interest in affairs over here, and
I think the time has come when Mr. Wilson's
dream of helping things to a finish could come
true. Only, it can't be accomplished by concilia-
tory or neutral methods. The Paris Conference
has made it apparent that the Allies will not con-
cede any point in their original demand for the
restoration of all invaded territory.
Well, it is nearly eight, and I expect to hear
"Lights out" at any minute, so I will stop.
There are no bugle calls here, orders are by word
of mouth. Much love to mother.
April 13, 1916
Dearest Mother:
After two days of driving rain and wind, to-day
is beautiful. Still breezy, but the sky is blue,
flecked with white, and the sun is bright and the
air is fresh and clean. Your letters of March 20th
and 24th came on the 9th and 11th. Wasn't the
parcel enterprising, to beat out a letter that was
56
LETTERS FROM FLANDERS
mailed four days ahead ? Just now, I was reading
over your letter about spending your days, " Thurs-
day, Mass at 7.30," and I looked at my watch and
it was 12.30 ; as nearly as I know, five hours is our
interval, so for a minute or two, I remembered. It
is a great comfort to me to think of your days be-
ing full, for I know that this time is, and is going
to be, one of the hard places in your life, and that
necessity for going ahead is the greatest thing.
I had a lovely letter from Mrs. Charlie H. the
other day, and she said that she was feeling very
deeply for you in anticipation of her own anxiety
when C. comes over. It must be bracing to know
that so many women are facing the same ordeal
and bravely going through with it, helping and
comforting each other.
I am keeping a sort of diary ; just putting down
the dates of different happenings. Whenever I have
been brought safe through special dangers, I put
a cross opposite the date ; I will tell them to you,
so that you can make a special thanksgiving. I
think you would rather have me do that than just
write ahead without saying anything. I have two,
now : March 27th and April 10th.
We have just come back from a foot-washing
parade at a near-by creek, or rather ditch. After
we had washed our feet, we rubbed white oil into
them to toughen the skin and prevent blisters. The
57
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
toilet things in the parcel were very far from being
"coals to Newcastle." They have all been used
already, and were what I wanted specially. Now,
I want a small sponge and a nail-brush, a comb,
and a cake of carbolic or some medicinal soap that
is good for irritated skin. I have told you lots of
things, you see. I do not mean to send them all
at once, but just tell you, as I think of them. Your
parcels will always have the things I need and want
most. . . .
A soldier must live from day to day, with no
thought of the future, just a steadfast purpose of
carrying out orders and being stronger and steadier
than he naturally is ; and faith and trust in God's
purpose make it possible for me. Do you not think
that the war is making people less selfish in the
world, and in the United States ? Surely it must,
when in so many places people are sacrificing
their dear ones and their money for a cause. Even
if it seems to some more a question of honor
and family, or national tradition, than justice or
freedom.
I often think of the rank and file of the German
army, and even the junior officers. They are suf-
fering untold hardships and showing magnificent
bravery in the face of heavy odds, as much, per-
haps more, than the soldiers of the Allies : although,
one must be here to realize that men have risen to
58
LETTERS FROM FLANDERS
a height of courage and endurance in this war that
people living in modern civilization never dreamed
of. Surely, some gain must come from this tremen-
dous effort and conquest of self, and Germany
must not be entirely a loser, when her sons, even
if forced, have paid such a price. I hope for a
Europe of republics and personal freedom as the
only adequate result. Of course, we strain against
national characteristics or nature that makes sub-
marines and Zeppelins possible. Such things are
the result, it seems to me, of forced acquiescence
to tyranny and wrong government, and time must
wear it down. The races will never be able to
understand each other; but you have heard the
cries for reprisal, much more horrible than the
deed if carried out, and we know our South,
the dealings with the negro there. Freedom, and
then the conquering of self are the great hopes
that the war holds out, and it is more than worth
that.
Do you take the '' Atlantic Monthly " ? If you
don't, do, and send it to me when you have fin-
ished, and I will pass it on. I like the things in
the almanac. I could not read magazines, but such
articles would be a great relief to my mind and
keep me in touch. Much love to you both.
59
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
Palm Sunday^ April 16, 1916
Dearest Mother :
This is just a note so that I would not let Palm
Sunday go by without writing to you. We have
cleared our tent out to-day and given everything
a good airing, and I let my time get too short.
This afternoon was beautifully clear and dry, so
it was a good opportunity to get the place cleared
up after a rainy week. We had our open-air
service at 1.30, and afterward a communion serv-
ice in the chaplain's tent, for which I was very
glad.
Yesterday, your second parcel came, with the
chocolate and coffee, towel and socks, and the pa-
per, which I am already using. The coffee and
prepared chocolate are splendid things. I thought
of asking for them once or twice, but never did.
Now, I can have some good hot drinks, for one
can always boil water. The socks are lovely and
soft, and I am glad to have the soft towel too.
Your parcels are always the best, because you are
the one that wants them to be the most, and I can
feel the love and thought in them. As for the
" staple fruit," ' as you call it, I would not want
you to ever even think of it ; so let 's not. To-day
came the Boy Scout knife from father, and some
clippings I was very glad to get. The knife is just
* Tobacco.
60
LETTERS FROM FLANDERS
the sort of a one I need, and a beauty. I will try
not to lose it.
This is such a short little note, that it hardly
seems worth sending, yet I will. To-morrow, I
should have one from you to answer, and any way
I will write. Now it is time to fall in. Very much
love to both of you, and to the dear people at
"1606."
April 18y 1916
Dearest Mother :
Your letter dated March 31st came yesterday,
and I am writing this on the paper enclosed. I
have the pad, too, for the parcel came a day sooner
than the letter, no, two days. I wrote you on
Sunday that I had received it, and father's knife
and newspaper clippings, too; all parcels now
have come sooner than the letters written the same
time. That seems funny, does it not ? Your parcels
are so dear, and breathe of you. The little white
towel will be comfortable sometimes, and the choc-
olate I enjoyed so much. It seems to be an article
of food which I do not grow tired of, and it adds
a pleasant taste to our utilitarian meals. The pad
and envelopes are line, and you could have thought
of nothing better than the coffee and liquid choco-
late. I practically do not drink water, at all, ex-
cept when it is boiled in tea, and now I can make
61
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
myself a hot, refreshing boiled drink between
meals. It has been rainy and cold almost con-
stantly this month, and a tent, although it keeps
out the weather, is not like a house, so hot coffee
and chocolate are luxuries, and you have sent me
the best of both.
Yesterday I had yours and father's letters of
March 31st, and a fraternity notice forwarded, a
dear little colored picture of the " frog footman,"
from Billy, and a lovely note from Father S., say-
ing that I was being prayed for twice daily in the
school chapel. How much that means to me. You
say to tell you what your "bit" can be. Dear
mother, that is it. You are praying not just for
me, but all of us out here, and the German sol-
diers too. I often think of you at early mass and
in "St. Saviour's," and so many other times of
the day, praying. That is the great thing, for it
all lies with God, and in His own way He always
answers prayers, so when I think that you and
father and Father W. and Father S. and so many
others are praying, it is a great comfort and
strength. When I am under fire, I pray not only
for protection, or a worthy dying, but for courage
not to lose my control and to help others.
This is one of my " green envelope" letters,
so I can write out. Our work is not so dangerous,
or, what is worse, does not require so much en-
62
LETTERS FROM FLANDERS
durance, as that of the. infantry who are on duty
for two or three days, and constantly subject to
attacks or bombardments. We work for three or
four hours, and then go back where we can rest
and get a new strength for our spirit; and then,
of course, our danger just now is not great, though
once or twice we have been in bad positions. That
reminds me that I have another " cross day " for
you, April 14th. We never know when we will
be called on. As the spring advances there are in-
dications of a new activity. So you can pray and
I rest in the strength of your prayers. I could
easily write you without letting you know that
there was danger, but I know you are brave and
strong ; I can feel it, and you are always near me ;
so I tell you special things in order that you can
pray specially, and give thanks specially. The
one great thing I need is courage and self-control
in danger; not only for myself, but for others.
There is nothing which so encourages and gives
heart to the weak as the strength and coolness of
others; and there are many boys here sixteen,
seventeen, eighteen, full of bravery, but too young
for a man's steadiness. Pray for them, too.
Yesterday I had another parcel from Norse cot-
tage, handkerchiefs, candy, chocolate, and cigar-
ettes, from those dear people who have not enough
to think of, with three of their own sons out here.
63
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
I have gotten this far without saying anything of
the wonderful news I had in a letter from To-
ronto, the other day, that O. was on his way home.
You must know before you get this, but is n't it
wonderful ; and what a reward and help to Mrs.
H. for all she has suffered and borne and given.
I do not know how long he will be able to stay,
but I hope it will be great happiness for them all.
There is something I have wanted to ask you,
in case, as Dean S. put it, the soldier should
' ' pass through battle into peace. ' ' Will you write
to Nurse H. ? Otherwise, I do not know how she
will get the news. I am glad that I have been able
to write all this to-day, for I wanted you to know
and be with me ; yet I wanted you to know, too,
that I am happy and not in any fear or strain, but
just as you are, going about my work, each day,
trusting in the comfort of being ' ' safe in the
hands " of the '* one disposing Power."
I so love the little things Billy sends, and his
thinking of me. Sue just sends them in an envel-
ope without comment. I must send him a let-
ter. The socks you sent are fine. But now, I have
plenty. When I need more, I will say. I love
your pictures more every day. It is strange that I
could not see the depth in them at first. I will
look forward to when you can send me a pansy.
I love them, and the thought of the flowers and
64
LETTERS FROM FLANDERS
the little garden. The Girard estate will soon be
fluttering green leaves and grass. A whole year
now since I have been away. Much love, dear
mother. Good-bye for a little while.
Boulogne-sur-Mer
April 27^ 1916
Dearest Mother :
The dearest old lady, who is a regular hospital
visitor, has just been to see me and given me this
paper to write to you. It is really the first chance
I have had, for the Sisters here are terribly busy
and one hates to bother them. I was wounded in
the left shoulder by a piece of shrapnel, very early,
about 12.30, Easter morning. I asked one of the
boys who carried me into the dressing-station, to
write a note to Aunt G. , asking her to cable you
that my wound was only slight, and I hope that
she has done so, before now. I do so hope that
you have not received official notification, anyway
before you heard from me. Everything would be
fine, were it not for the fear of your anxiety. The
wound is a small one and it has never given a
minute's pain.
I was taken to a clearing hospital in a field am-
bulance, arriving about 6 a.m., Sunday, and left
Tuesday afternoon, arriving here about 11 p.m. We
came on the hospital train, which was a beauty.
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
This is a lovely hospital, in a big casino, right on
the seashore, and every one is lovely to me. Yes-
terday the doctor removed the shrapnel, a little
round bullet, so now I am all right. It went into
my back, just below the shoulder blade, and came
out in front, not much of a wound. My shoulder
is a little stiff, but does not hurt at all, and I sleep
well and eat everything I can get. To-day, a lot
of us had our beds carried out on the lawn in the
sunshine and were there all day, with a grapho-
phone for our diversion. To-morrow, or the next
day, I am booked to go to England. Is not that
fine ? It is like having an Easter vacation.
I will write again very soon, and cable my ad-
dress when I know it. Very much love to you all.
King George Hospital
London^ May 26, 1916
Dear Father Ward :
Your letter of April 7th with the Easter card en-
closed was forwarded to me from France, and I
received your letter of May 5th last week. Both
gave me happiness, and the card is beautiful. Does
it not seem a coincidence that the Lenten season
so exactly confined my stay in the war zone ? We
landed at the dock in France shortly after midnight
on Ash Wednesday morning, March 8th, and I
was wounded as nearly to midnight on Easter
6e>
LETTERS FROM FLANDERS
morning as it could possibly have been. I had
looked at my watch about five minutes to twelve,
and as nearly as I can judge was hit about ten or
fifteen minutes later. It is a Lent that I am not
likely to forget.
I am entirely well now ; the wound is healed
and whatever shock I suffered has disappeared, so
that I feel ready and anxious to return to the work
which I had hardly started. Six weeks seem very
inconsiderable when the majority of the men have
been out there for six months and a great many
for eighteen. I think that I will be discharged from
hospital in a few days, then have a short furlough
before rejoining my base company. Then probably
there will be a week or two waiting for a draft, so
that it will be a month anyway before I rejoin my
unit at the front.
The life out there is certainly very much disas-
sociated from that of an ordinary mortal ; in fact,
you can only realize it while you are actually there.
I have completely lost my memory of the realiza-
tion already. In a way, it is living in the constant
shadow of death. The hardships in hving, wet
clothes, rough food, lack of washing, are only in-
cidents which one might undergo anywhere. But
there is always the consciousness that one must
soon go back to face danger. Yet the surprising
thing is, how easily the burden of anxiety is thrown
67
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
off, once you leave the firing line. In our case, of
course, we usually reached camp on our return
about 4 A.M., with a feeling of wonderful peace,
ate a breakfast of hot tea and biscuit and cheese,
and then had a dreamless and very refreshing
sleep ; woke up about eleven for our real breakfast
of bacon. Then the rest of the day until supper time
was spent in a care-free spirit.
When you are on the firing line, unless the fire
is rather fierce, and always in the lulls which come,
there is the same feeling of a strain slipping off
one's shoulders. So that actually the time that one
is under a real strain is not very long. I suppose
one of the greatest fears a man has to fight is that
his nerve will give way or that he will be cowardly
in some way.
I have found in every trying circumstance that
praying is a wonderful comfort. I do not know
how a man can go through it who has not a belief
in God to fall back on.
Your letters help me very much, with the knowl-
edge of your prayer and what you say about God's
presence. A man fully realizes his own physical
futility in the face of modern warfare. There is
nothing then to fall back on but his will power,
and I know that mine is worthless excepting I
have the spiritual help which comes from my be-
lief in God. Your words all help and strengthen
68
LETTERS FROM FLANDERS
that, so are and will be a great help to me in the
future.
I will write again when I know my time for go-
ing back.
Very much love to you and Miss Ward.
Ill
LETTERS FROM THE FRENCH FRONT
0 Paradise !
Where loyal hearts and true
Stand ever in the lighty
All rapture through and through
Ill
LETTERS FROM THE FRENCH FRONT
British Officers* Club
France^ December 2, 1916
Dearest Mother :
I am at the base for the second time, and ex-
pect to join my new unit in a day or two. I tele-
graphed my address to you yesterday and you
should have it by now, but any way I will write it
out so that you can be sure : Lieutenant E. A.
Abbey, Fourth Canadian Mounted Rifles, B.E.F.,
France. I meant to wire you as soon as I was
gazetted, but the whole thing was an indefinite
proceeding.
Last Wednesday a week we were told to go at
once to London and get our outfit. I left Thurs-
day morning and arrived in London about noon
on Thursday. I went first to the Pay Office and
then out to Chelsea Lodge. Aunt G. was there.
I had wired her that I was coming, and we at
once went to a tailor's in Pall Mall and I was
measured for a uniform. Friday morning I went
with Aunt G. to the tailor's for a fitting, and then
to the Army and Navy Stores (London Wana-
73
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
maker's), and there we purchased a variety of
things. I am going to write you a complete list in
a minute. We went back to Chelsea Lodge for
lunch, and then to the Stores again to proceed
with the work in hand. Saturday morning I went
to the Stores for a fitting and then to the Pay Office,
where I found they had received authority to give
me my outfit allowance of fifty pounds. Saturday
afternoon my uniform arrived from the tailor's and
I went with Aunt G. to tea at the American Em-
bassy.
Sunday morning I went to eight o'clock service
at Westminster Abbey, and back to Chelsea Lodge
for breakfast. Then I went over to Batter sea Park
and called on Mrs. Charlie, and found Charlie
there on his leave. It was fine to see him again,
and he seemed very well and happy. I stayed
there until two o'clock, and then went back to
Chelsea Lodge and went to the three o'clock serv-
ice at St. Paul's. It was the first time I had
been there, and I was greatly impressed with the
beauty of the place. After service we went to tea
with the J.'s and after that I went to dinner with
the L.'s.
Monday morning I took my uniform back to
the tailor to be altered, and then went on to the
Army and Navy Stores to finish shopping, which
took up most of the day ; Tuesday morning, more
74
LETTERS FROM FRANCE
alterations. Tuesday afternoon I went shopping
by myself and managed to get a few little Christ-
mas things, some littie toys for the children, but
nothing much.
Here is a list of my outfit :
1 cap and sword-belt and stick.
1 coat.
1 pair breeches and 1 trousers (dress).
1 coat, 1 breeches, trench.
1 overcoat.
1 trench-coat, waterproof, fleece-lined.
1 pair of high field boots, leather.
1 pair of marching-boots.
1 pair of leather leggins.
1 pair of high rubber boots, leather soles.
1 pair of rubber trousers.
1 woollen sweater coat.
1 leather vest.
4 flannel shirts, collars and neckties.
3 suits heavy wool underwear.
2 pairs flannel pajamas.
1 canvas sleeping-bag and valise combined.
1 canvas kit-bag (haversack).
2 towels.
Electric torch and whistje.
Several military books.
A wrist -vyatch.
Of course I have socks, handkerchiefs, etc. ; as
you see, I am very complete and comfortable.
Wednesday morning we sppnt packing up, and
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just before I left in the afternoon Mrs. L. came
in, so I was able to say Good-bye to her again.
Then Wednesday night I arrived at the C.M.S.,
and early the next morning started off again and
arrived here yesterday. In a day or two I should
be with my unit.
When I went back to Crowborough, I found
three letters from you and one from father. Yours
were written just after the election.
Well, dearest mother, I must stop now for a
time, but I will write very often. Your letters are
my great comfort and inspiration. You are so full
of facing things squarely and bravely. I know it
will be hard for you, but you will bear through
bravely and I am happy that I can represent you.
Love to father.
Canadian Base, December 4, 1916
Dearest Mother :
We are still here, and it is unsettled how soon
we will be sent ''up the line." I think very soon,
and I know I will find mail waiting me there. The
mails for Canada for Christmas close to-day, and
so this morning there was a tremendous pile of
letters to be censored. There is a large number
of troops here. All the officers not on duty, about
twenty-five of us, sat here in the ante-room of
the officers' mess and read and initialled letters
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LETTERS FROM FRANCE
from 9 A.M. to 3 p.m. I read hundreds of letters
to mothers, fathers, wives, sisters, sweethearts,
brothers, children, and chums, all cheery, and con-
cerned with the happiness of Christmas at home
and making light of hardships and the future.
You know that I think the men in the ranks are
the finest in the army. It is they who have made
a wall of their bodies to hold back the advancing
menace, and now are storming back. The phys-
ical courage and sacrifice is higher than the guid-
ing mind, great and necessary and unselfish as
this latter is. I am glad that I had the privilege
of being with them for those short weeks last
spring.
Your description of the mission at Sagada is
wonderful, and the engineering side is appealing.
Father S. must be a splendid man to accomplish
so much, and one does not wonder at his appre-
hensions in the face of the present disappointing
conditions in the country, but we cannot give up
our responsibility ; it is our country, and we must
fight to keep it whole and bring back the ideals,
just as the North fought to keep it whole in '61.
We must constantly stand and bear witness for
and help such big men as Theodore Roosevelt who
are our leaders. There are a great many ways we
can help. The Church has the greatest power, and
after that the schools and our children. We want
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children like those who shouted *' Vive la France '*
in Germany when the war was started.
And now I must wish you and father a happy,
happy Christmas, as I cannot send a card. Wher-
ever I am on Christmas Day I will be keeping it
with you. You must think of me as very com-
fortable now, especially in the matter of eating.
Even at the front when in billets, the officers'
mess is part of the institution. I will have share
in a servant to take care of my things. Here it is
very comfortable. We are three in a tent and have
our sleeping-bags, which are very warm and com-
fortable. The washing conveniences are good and
the mess excellent, — breakfast, lunch, tea, and
dinner. There is a big ante-room for reading, writ-
ing, etc.
Dearest love to you both, and a happy Christ-
mas. You will know that I am helping you in this
big, shadowy time.
France^ December 4, 1916
Dear Father .
I have been here at the base since Friday a.m.,
and expect to go up the line to-day. Things
happen pretty quickly when they get started. I
was in London for a week, and have a very good
outfit. I sent the list to mother, so that she will
know just what I have, and that I am very com-
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LETTERS FROM FRANCE
fortable. The Fourth C.M.R. is an Ontario bat-
talion, I think, and came over originally as cav-
alry, but at present it is infantry, and I am look-
ing forward to belonging to the main branch of
the army. There is no question that at the pres-
ent time the infantry is first.
As was to be expected my mail is all astray
somewhere, but I suppose it will gradually catch
me up. I found a letter, dated November 15th,
from you on my return to Crowborough : the first
word I have had from you about the election.
Nothing seems to affect your continual rush. I
wish you could get off and come over here for a
visit. Things are very quiet, though. You must
bring mother over for the Peace Jubilee ' ' apres la
Guerre." Affairs are beginning to take another
far, far-away turn. The Rumanian reverse is not
very pleasant.
I have just finished a very good dinner in the
mess and am now sitting in the lounge, listening
to some very good music by the band. There is
much enjoyment in an officer's life back of the line,
but there things boil down pretty well. Apparently
we will not move to-day. There is much I would
like to tell you, but now that I am responsible for
my own letters, it is going to be harder, instead of
easier, to write. I am looking forward eagerly to
getting back to the realities, and it is great inspi-
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ration to know that you and mother are glad for
me to go too.
While I was in London, getting outfitted, I had
tea with Mrs. Page at the Embassy and dinner
with the L.'s. I am going now to see if I can hunt
up an English church. This morning I moved up
here, so did not have a chance. I will write often
and give you all the news that the censor considers
safe, which is not much.
Much love to mother.
France^ December 8, 1916
Dear Father :
Still at the base, though we expect to move up
the line at any moment. Things are very comfort-
able here. We have a very good mess and prac-
tically nothing to do in the way of duty, except
censoring mail, but I have done all the sitting
around that I care to, and am anxious to get down
to work of some sort. All my mail is forwarded to
the battalion, so I can hear nothing from home
until I arrive there.
We have had plenty of opportunity to go into
the city, and I have enjoyed poking around and
airing my "rotten" French. There is something
childish and eager about the French that I like very
much, and I would love to live here for a while,
but not now. Every night I have that wasted-day
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LETTERS FROM FRANCE
feeling — no one enjoys leave better than I do,
but when I am on duty I want to do something.
I hope that your rush of work is over, and
things smoother. The chief item of interest here
is the new Premier, and our greatest distress the
fall of Bucharest. There is lots of work ahead for
us all.
Love to mother, and a very happy Christmas.
We will be together again for the next, I hope.
Probably we move soon, and then my letters will
be more interesting.
December 10, 1916
Dearest Mother:
I am still at the base, but have orders to join
my battalion some time to-day, and am very glad.
Doing nothing at all for a week has been a very
unpleasant experience, especially as the camp is
crowded with men undergoing rigorous training,
and living in very uncomfortable conditions ; the
contrast is too glaring. The changed condition I
am living under was no part of our desire in this,
so when I am thrown into a place where there is
that and nothing else, it is revolting.
War news as one gets it here is not encourag-
ing ; especially the tide in Rumania seems going
against us. We have a tendency, I think, to be
too optimistic and too comfortable and sure of
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things. That is especially so in England. As a
matter of fact, though we shall win in the end,
there is struggle and bitterness ahead for us all. I
think the new English Premier will be a great ad-
vantage to us. Every one has been inspired with
his ability to get ahead with things. The crying
need everywhere to-day is for leaders, and they are
pitifully few.
Well, dearest mother, you must not think I am
not cheerful, for I am, and am looking ahead
eagerly ; and you will know by my letters how
much happier I am when I feel that I am where
I should be. Dearest love to you and father, and
another Happy Christmas, if this is in time.
December 13, 1916
Dearest Mother :
I am writing this in a little French train, very
near to my journey's end. I wrote you Sunday
morning that I was due to leave the base that after-
noon. It turned out that several of us had been
told off to conduct drafts to their units in the field.
I had to take men to three battalions of another
division, and it was quite an undertaking. There
were rations for emergency and for the journey to
be taken over and distributed, and the men loaded
on the train and generally looked after. We stopped
at one place for half a day, which meant de-train-
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LETTERS FROM FRANCE
ing and re-entraining. We reached our journey's
end very late last night, and I was able to turn
over my party intact, which was better luck than
some had, several men having been lost en route ^
which is not unusual.
Four of us spent the night in a French town of
a fair size. There were, however, only two hotels,
and after knocking the peevish proprietors to their
second-story windows, we were assured, in spite
of vigorous protest on our part, that they were
" complet " : "Plus de chambres, messieurs." I
was the only one of the party who could speak
French at all, and as you know I am not unusu-
ally proficient ; and the more desperate I became
the less words I could think of, especially standing
in the middle of the street, talking to a second-
story window. My final effort was a very com-
manding: "II faut," upon which madame re-
plied, " II ne faut pas," and closed her shutters.
After three days " en chemin de fer " of war-time,
in the early hour of a bitterly cold raw morning,
things were not very promising.
We located the office of the town major, and a
sleepy orderly offered us the hospitality of his tiled
floor. It was very stuffy and smelly, so two of us
did not accept. We found half a dozen big tour-
ing-cars, with curtains down, parked outside the
headquarters' building, and climbed inside, re-
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moved boots, and made beds out of the seat cush-
ions. I found a blanket and a big goatskin rug in
mine, and with my fleece-lined trench-coat to
help, made myself luxuriously warm and comfort-
able and had a delightful sleep. At seven this
morning we returned to the hotel and found ma-
dame in a better humor, had a good wash-up and
very good breakfast, — omelet, '*cafe au lait,"
and bread and butter. Then we found a good bar-
ber-shop and had a shave, and took a walk through
the town, purchasing a few needed articles ; then
went to the railway station and put our luggage on
this train, which is proceeding leisurely on its way.
We are very comfortable in a first-class coach,
entirely surrounded by gray upholstery, and after
a change at noon should get to our unit in the mid-
dle of the afternoon. These little trains travel be-
tween stations at about four miles per hour, and
stop at every place for at least half an hour, though
no one gets on or oflP, so one just takes life easy,
and does not worry about time. I have thoroughly
enjoyed all this experience, seeing the few French
cities that I have, and the opportunity for talking.
I would like to have a small French grammar, if
you can pick one up, to brush up on my verbs
and vocabulary. I would infinitely rather be here
in France than Flanders. The atmosphere is en-
tirely different and the people are fascinating.
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LETTERS FROM FRANCE
Well, we are getting near our change place, and
I think I can mail this there.
December 16, 1916
Dearest Mother :
I am writing this from my dug-out in the trenches ,
this being the second day I have been in. Christ-
mas Day we hope to be in billets back of the line.
I wrote you from the train on Wednesday. Wednes-
day night we went to a reinforcement camp, where
we spent the night, billeted comfortably in a farm-
house ; then Thursday we moved up to our bat-
talion transport line, and spent the night here in
billets in a small village. Yesterday we came into
the trenches where our battalion is, and were
assigned to companies. My company is "D."
Things are very comfortable here, and as good as
can be expected.
You must not worry, but just pray and go ahead
living bravely, conscious that I am strengthened by
your strength. God grant that things may be right
in the end. I will write as often as I can, but prob-
ably my letters will be short, because there is little
I can tell you, beyond my own safety and good
spirits, and then it is a little hard to get letters written
properly excepting in billets . Yesterday at transport
I found a letter from father, dated November 7th, so
you can see how my mail has been delayed. I am
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eagerly looking forward to the time when it catches
up. I have been on duty and now just have time
to catch a mail with this, so I must stop.
Dearest mother, you know that you have all my
love and gratitude, and I will try to do my best.
December 18, 1916
Dearest Mother :
I am still in the trenches, my tour not being over
until next Saturday ; I am not in the front line, but
in the supports. We only stay in the front line
three days at a time. I have just been reading over
the little Manual of Prayers for Workers which you
sent me sometime ago. It is fine, especially the plea
for duty before everything. There is a paragraph
by Dean Church on ''Manliness," which takes
for granted that man is called to a continual strug-
gle with difficulties, and makes it a point of honor
not to be dismayed by them ; and the ' ' quality
which seizes on the idea of duty as something which
leaves a man no choice ' ' ; that is the quality which
I need most now, the strength to do my duty, and
I pray for it hourly, and I know that you do it for
me too.
When I get out into billets my letters will be
more interesting, but here there is little or nothing
to tell you now. I can tell you, though, that my
thoughts are with you and father and with your
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LETTERS FROM FRANCE
anxieties and cares. You must just go ahead bravely
with your duties as I must. Remember that I am
well and happy and of a good heart.
December 18, 1916
Dear Father :
Many happy returns of yesterday. I had you
in my thoughts all day, but did not get a letter off.
So far the only letter I have had from home since I
have been here is a long one from you, dated No-
vember 10th, and it was very welcome I can tell
you. I am hoping some of mother's will catch up
to me by to-night. I have been in the trenches
since I arrived on Friday, but by Christmas I hope
to be out in billets. Things are busy here and it is
the place to realize war. All my hope and prayer
is that I will have strength and courage to do my
duty as you would have me. I am very comfort-
able, happy and in good spirits, so you can have
a peaceful mind regarding me.
Dearest love to you and mother.
Christmas Day,, 1916
Darling Mother :
To-day is my second Christmas away from
home in my twenty-eight years . What joy it will be
if God grants us one together again after this long
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separation. I am going to start by telling you where
I am. Picture a little French village with one long,
narrow, cobbled street. At one end the street leaves
the village and crosses over a deep railway cut and
then wanders away through the rolling country. I
should have told you that the village is on a hilltop.
From the railway bridge, the street runs perhaps
a hundred yards and then turns 90° to the left and
runs downhill, but before you get to that there are
two small streets on the right. The houses are low,
one storied affairs of stone or white plaster, and
tiled roofs and are lined right along the street, so
that they are only about twenty feet apart. There
are several larger houses with courtyards in front,
with high walls. It is all beautifully picturesque
in spite of my description.
D Company billet is just at the turn of the main
road. You go under a big gray stone archway,
into a big quadrilateral courtyard about two hun-
dred and fifty feet across. Just on the left is a two-
story farmhouse and beyond a barn, and then stables
all around the court to the arch again. All the
buildings are gray brick and stone with red tiled
roofs and rather old and weather-worn. There is a
brick duck pond in the centre of the court, and a
big collection of French farm wagons and army
limbers and piles of hay. Altogether it is a very
picturesque old place, and less than four miles from
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LETTERS FROM FRANCE
that famous streak of mud which separates the Allies
and the Germans.
The men are living in the loft of the barn, a big
long place, and they have straw and bunks and
brazier fires, but it is pretty cold and dark there,
just the same. Still, the magnificent spirit of mak-
ing the best of grim situations keeps them happy
and cheerful. They sit at the long table with candles,
and write letters, play cards, and so on, or around
the braziers, and sing and tell stories. Just now they
are patiently waiting for their Christmas dinner,
which is due in about fifteen minutes. I hope that
it will be a good one.
We, the company officers, are waiting to go over
and visit them while they are eating. Our billet is
a room upstairs in a farmhouse. There are six of
us, and we have cot-beds made of chicken wire,
nailed on *' two by fours," and our sleeping-bags
and blankets, so we are very comfortable. There
is a fireplace in the room and we have a charcoal
brazier in it to make things cheerful, and a table and
our possessions. It is the old familiar life of which
one reads so much, and because it is so like a story,
there is a certain touch of romance ; D Company
officers are especially nice chaps ; it would be
hard to find a nicer half-dozen to be thrown to-
gether, and you can imagine that we are thrown
very close together. We live, sleep, and eat in
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the same room or dug-out, sharing duties and
comforts.
I said I thought it would be hard to find a nicer
half-dozen. I think it would be impossible. They
are the type of men I like. First, there is the Cap-
tain, a Military Cross man, who made a wonderful
record at the Somme. He is a perfect soldier, modest
and gentie, and yet as firm as a rock ; cool and con-
fident and determined. Then Captain G., who is
pleasant and sensible ; Lieutenant B. , a big, strong,
good-natured chap, who used to teach school;
Lieutenant C, a little chap who is a newspaper
writer, and very funny, and keeps every one's
spirits up ; Lieutenant J., a boy of somewhat the
Brinton H. type. All of them are a clean lot, with
high living ideals.
We came out of the line the day before yester-
day, Saturday, about noon, and marched here. Our
water tank had been hit by a shell, so there had
been no washing for three days, and living three
days in a muddy ditch is not conducive to cleanli-
ness; we were simply plastered with mud from head
to foot. It did not take us long to get our muddy
things off and changed into clean things, washed,
shaved, etc. Then we went up to the battalion
mess, which we have when we are out in billets,
and had a very good dinner.
Sunday morning at eight our chaplain had an
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LETTERS FROM FRANCE
early celebration in the Y.M.C.A. hut, which I went
to, and, by the way, we have a splendid chaplain.
Then I spent the morning straightening up my
things and getting them clean, with my batman's as-
sistance. In the afternoon we went and had a bath,
which was a great luxury, and then at six the cap-
tain took the whole company to an evening service
in an old factory which had been fixed up as a
cinema hall. It was just a big brick building, bare
to the roof, with benches and a platform at one end,
lighted up with two or three lamps. The floor was
tiled and the inside of the walls have been white-
washed long since. It was draughty and cold, but
the place was filled and the service was a hearty one.
We sang Christmas hymns, "Hark, the herald
angels," and some that I did not know, and had an
address. I do not think that I will ever forget the
circumstances. It reminded me of the picture that
I sent you of the French soldiers.
This morning the ' ' Padre, ' ' as they call the chap-
lain, had another early service at eight, to which I
went. This afternoon I walked to another village
about five miles away, where Charlie H.'s engineer
company is billeted. We are in the same division,
but when I got there I found that he was in the
trenches; still I managed to get him on the 'phone
and wished him Merry Christmas, and he asked me
to come to dinner with him to-morrow.
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It is strange to be back again in this life at the
Front, and now I am more really in it than ever,
doing the actual infantry duty. Two nights last
week I was out in "No Man's Land," between
our lines and the Germans, in charge of a barbed-
wire party, and managed to feel quite at home
and comfortable there. It is a wonderful experi-
ence, and, if one can live through it, will change
life. I am sure now that I can never go back and
go on with my own work for myself. If God
wills that I do go back, I must go into service of
some sort. Perhaps I will be able to go into the
Church, and your long cherished hopes and prayers
will be fulfilled. Life, here, is such a feeble little
thing, so uncertain from hour to hour, that one
cannot help knowing that it is a gift and entirely
in God's hands. I desperately need that courage
of duty to help me in my work, and if I have it
now to face death, then I must have it afterward
to face life.
It is very late now, so I must stop, with my
dearest Christmas love to you and father.
December 27, 1916
Dear Father :
I am lucky enough to be in billets for Christ-
mas. When I landed here my battahon was in the
trenches, so I went right in, and was assigned to
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LETTERS FROM FRANCE
D Company. It was the most fortunate thing that
could have happened to me. . . .
I discovered that Charlie H. was not very far
away, and last night I rode over and had dinner
with him. The captain lent me his horse and groom,
or rather I rode the groom's horse and he rode the
captain's, which is a little wild. I told the groom I
could n't ride very well, so he rode beside me and
I got along famously. It is the first time I ever rode
a horse in my life, but I made up my mind that I
would have to start some time, and it was inky
dark, so no one could see how badly I was doing
it. It was nine or ten miles there and back, and I
enjoyed it tremendously. Charlie was delighted to
see me and I had a fine dinner with him at his mess.
He had invited me over the 'phone. After I had
been with him for about half an hour, I noticed that
he was wearing the Military Cross ribbon. It was
the first I knew that he had won it. I congratulated
him, but I knew he would hate to have me ask
about it, so I did n't, but I know it was for some-
thing at the Somme. Is n't it wonderful that both
he and H. should have won it? They are certainly
a great family.
I wonder what you think of all the peace propa-
ganda. Imagine Germany fighting for the protec-
tion and freedom of small nations ! No one was
more astonished than Germany at that, or quicker
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to deny it. Well, it is a strange state of affairs. We
must buckle down now and win a decisive victory.
Time is getting ripe.
Things are going well with me, and I am in fine
spirits. Help mother in her anxiety. God will an-
swer our prayers and bring us all safe through. It
is our share in this great struggle against evil.
December 29, 1916
Dearest Mother :
This is the first letter on a little leather writing-
pad that Mrs. L. sent me for Christmas. I am just
back in the trenches and writing from the company
dug-out. On Sunday morning I am going to be
sent on a general instruction course about ten miles
back of the line, and will be there for a week, or
perhaps two, so this turn in the trenches will be a
very easy one for me.
Yesterday I received a letter from Father W. ad-
dressed to me here. It is the first I have had, and
I know that you have written several, so they are
sure to arrive in a dav or two now, and I will know
what you think of my being a lieutenant. Father
W.'s letter was lovely, and he sent me a beautiful
card. The week in billets was very pleasant, and
I told you about our comfortable room and mess.
There was very little work to be done, just some
cleaning; altogether it was a good rest. I do hope that
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LETTERS FROM FRANCE
you are well and keeping happy in the knowledge
that we are taking the right part in this struggle.
The papers lately have been full of peace talk.
It may open the way to discussion, which will be
profitable, but there can be no doubt that we must
fight on until Germany is willing to make full rep-
aration. The world and civilization must be safe-
guarded against a repetition of this horrible thing,
and we are all willing to pay the necessary price.
When I think of these boys out here, putting up
with the most unheard-of hardships and difficulties
and in the constant shadow of death, my heart goes
out to them, and I only pray that I maybe worthy
to be with them, and, if possible, help them through
as an officer should. Somehow my little bronze
crucifix came off* my coat on my journey up here.
I have worn it constantly since you sent it, and now
I feel badly not to have it. Can you send me an-
other ?
Darling mother, all my love is with you, and my
thoughts. I will write to you very often. My love
to father and Susan and her dear family.
January 1, 1917
Dearest Mother:
This is the first day of the year, which I hope
and pray will bring us all peace. What a strange
time we have come to live in, with nearly the whole
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world involved in a terrible struggle and conflict.
How little you thought, when you were a child,
with the echo of the terrible Civil War in your
heart, that you would some day have a son in the
battle line ! And now, although we know that Ger-
many is desperately anxious for peace and Austria
even more, yet we know, too, that we must go
ahead and fight until the invaded countries are free
and the menace to future generations destroyed.
When one thinks of the thousands of men who
have given their lives that this victory may be won,
and when one realizes that now as we keep stead-
ily on, we can surely win, the thought of anything
else is weak and dishonorable and unworthy of
God who is guiding us. I often think of Nurse
Cavell and how bravely and calmly she gave her
life for the cause ; that should help you, too, for
she was a woman just as you are, and the same
sort of woman, I imagine. Thousands of splendid
men have given their lives, and women have given
their sons and husbands, and we coming after must
offer the same thing and be willing to give it, too,
for it is a common cause. If we stop and think for
a minute of the terror and misery and tragedy that
has been wrought, and we know that this can be
spared future generations if we press on to the
finish, how little one life seems for one to give, and
yet it is all that is asked of us.
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LETTERS FROM FRANCE
Mother, if you could only see these boys in the
ranks, cheerfully enduring the most frightful hard-
ships, and facing horrors with the most inspiring
and indomitable courage and determination, your
heart would nearly burst with joy and pride, and
you would know that God was going to give us
victory. Just now the trenches are in a frightful
condition of mud and water, and it is utterly im-
possible for the men to keep dry or to have dry
dug-outs to sleep in. They are in a state of misery,
as far as physical comfort goes, for days at a time,
and yet they stand all night, often for sixteen hours
at a stretch, in pouring rain and under intermittent
fire, looking out over the parapet into the darkness
of **No Man's Land," guarding humanity; and
if you walk along and ask them how they are get-
ting on, the answer will be a cheery '* Everything
fine, sir. " Then they will go out at night on work-
ing parties and stand in water up to their knees
and try to shovel mud that won't shovel, for four
hours at a time and perhaps without any supper ;
and let a bombardment start, they will quietly take
their posts in exposed positions and stay there or
drop. This is just trench routine. You know what
they did at the Somme, advancing into the mouth
of an indescribable hell.
These are just New Year's thoughts, and come
chiefly from the thought of that final peace which
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AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
I hope this year will bring, and the peace which
the enemy is spreading abroad in a final endeavor
to stem the tide.
As for me, I am just starting two very pleasant
weeks, attending a divisional training school, quite
a distance back of the line and in a very comfort-
able billet. I will write you more about it, but now
I must catch the mail. I did not like to leave the
others in that slough of mud, but it was orders,
and it will make me more efficient in the end.
Dearest mother, I am full of love for you and
father and all at home, and want to be worthy of
you. I have had hard luck with my mail, but will
have it soon.
January 3, 191 7
Dear Father :
Fortune has favored me, in a way, by sending
me out of the trenches for two weeks at a time
when they were in a frightfully muddy condition.
I am at a training school, a short distance back of
the line, taking a general course of instruction.
The information I am getting is very valuable,
and my living conditions are very comfortable.
I am billeted in a big, old-fashioned French farm-
house, the variety that you go into from the road,
through an archway, and find yourself in a big
court-yard. In this particular one, which is of gray
98
LETTERS FROM FRANCE
stone with red tiled roofs, there is what appears to
be a high wall along the road, with an arch at the
right hand end. When you get inside you see that
the wall is the back of a line of stables, and there
is a similar line on the right. The court itself is
about two hundred feet square, and filled up with
the usual piles of straw and old wagons. There is
a big barn on the left, and at the back, facing the
entrance, a big house. I have a large square room,
with a red tiled floor and a stove and a smaller
room opening off* it with a very comfortable bed.
I brought a man with me to keep my things clean
and look after the room, light the fires in the even-
ing, etc., and so I live like an aristocrat.
There is a very good mess and the meals are
very enjoyable. Our hours are from 8.30 a.m. un-
til 5 P.M., and an hour from 8.30 to 9.30 in the
evening, which does not leave very much outside
for writing or reading. Dinner is a parade and
usually a long drawn out, tiresome affair, which
takes from 7 till 8.30, so practically our only free
time is from 5 to 7 and after 9.30.
The chief thing of interest in the war news at
present is all the peace propaganda, notes coming
from every direction, thick and fast. This morn-
ing's paper said that the Allies' reply to Berlin had
been favorably received in the U.S.A. I know that
your sentiments echo it. To accept any terms of
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AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
Germany's now, or even to discuss them, would be
worse than folly. We are fighting for a peaceful
future, and the only hope for that is to shatter the
Prussian military power and prospects. Rumanian
news is still unpleasant, and may lengthen things,
but we know that victory is coming, so we can
afford to wait quietly until the tide turns. I am in
fine condition and spirits, and am thankful to be
here with a chance to accomplish something.
Dearest love to mother. My letters are short, but
they will be frequent.
January 4, 1917
Darling Mother :
Things are going well at the school and I am
learning new and valuable lessons. It is an indi-
cation of the thoroughness of this war, that the
training of officers and men is continuous, and
methods and equipment are constantly improved.
The lessons of two months ago are cancelled and
something utterly different taught. It is this sleep-
less energy and the straining of every mind that
will bring us victory in the end.
To-night I had a wonderful surprise, there was
a batch of mail for me : a letter from you , one
from father, four from Toronto, and a Christmas
card from my old resident engineer on the C.P.R.
Yours and father's were both dated December 8th,
100
LETTERS FROM FRANCE
so I have missed two anyway, but the last I had
before that was dated November 24th. The others
will probably come. It is wonderful that my mail
has had so few mishaps when others have lost so
much. Aunt G. sent me a parcel from London on
December 3d, with some underwear and things
I left behind by mistake, and it has never reached
me. That, so far as I know, is the first parcel I have
ever lost.
You can imagine what joy it was to have a letter
from you, after waiting so long. You have so an-
swered my thoughts, as to the event of my finish-
ing my work out here. It is a tremendous comfort
to think of you facing the issue and ' ' carrying on ' '
so bravely. After all, that is what we are called on
to do in this life, wherever we are, and the final
moment for all of us may come at any time.
We both trust in God's will and direction ; for
the rest, it is the business of the hour. How won-
derful it will be if we can be together again at
home. You are right to be praying for my cour-
age ; that is my greatest need and much depends
on it.
Do you remember that I used to give you dates
for thanksgiving for mercies shown to me? An-
other one is December 20th.
Germany's attitude toward the smaller neutral
states is becoming threatening. Surely the United
101
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
States cannot suffer another violation of neutral ter-
ritory.
Dearest mother, Good-night. One of my chief
helps and desires now is writing to you, so you may
be sure letters are always on the way.
January 8, 1917
Dearest Mother :
Yesterday another little letter came from you,
dated December 15th, only a note you wrote to catch
an extra mail. It is a trial to have had things in the
post line go so consistently wrong, but it is to be
expected, I suppose. There has been trans-channel
trouble lately, and then the Christmas congestion
would naturally cause delay. Parcels have not come,
and the letters which I received from you since ar-
riving in France are dated November 24th,^25th,
December 8th and 15th. You can easily fill in the
gaps. I know there are mathy, and father's of No-
vember 10th, November 24th, and December 8th.
One of these days I will have a big batch. I hope it
will be soon. I know it will be a disappointment to
you that they have n't come, especially the Christ-
mas parcel and wishes, but I know the love, and it
will be all the same when I do have them. Perhaps
mine to you are missing in the same way. Father
W.'s letter of December 5th came right through,
and was the first I had addressed ' ' Lieut. ' ' Do not
102
LETTERS FROM FRANCE
think that I am unhappy or disappointed ; it is a
foregone conclusion that one misses out in mail
when you make a change, and from now on, things
will come regularly and the others will catch up
gradually and be all the more welcome after the
wait.
We started on our second week of the course to-
day. Part of the divisional staff are moving to this
village for quarters and have taken over the billets,
so I have lost my nice farmhouse. We have all
moved into a big hut, which is fitted up with bunks
and has two good stoves and is really remarkably
comfortable. I have my sleeping-bag and an extra
blanket and a canvas water-bucket, for toilet pur-
poses. To actually live in a regular house with the
customary perquisites, without the knowledge that
it would only last a week, would be a wonderful
feeling after this camping experience. This is my
fifteenth month. The dug-out living is still new to
me, but I suppose I will soon be used to it too.
We have had some beautiful days here. It hardly
seems possible that it is January, and I am still in
love with the country. There are rolling fields and
farm lands, picked out by tree-bordered roads, and
one can usually see a half-dozen villages on the ho-
rizon, with the inevitable church spire, and on the
hilltops are a sprinkling of long-armed windmills.
The country roads are very straight and well-paved,
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AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
and invariably lined on each side with high pop-
lars. One thing you would notice are the big life-
sized crucifixes one meets along the roads, in prom-
inent places. Some of the crosses are made of real
trees. Generally there is a little iron gate and hedge-
lined approach. Then, too, there are little shrines
with the image of the Virgin in them. You come
on these in the most unexpected places. Yesterday
I saw one in a niche in the gable end of a very
ordinary-looking brick house.
The news one finds in the papers nowadays
seems to portend things. I do not exactly know
what. The conquest of Rumania seems practically
complete, and yet it has not been an entirely satis-
factory victory. There is much said of the possi-
bility of Von BernstorfF's recall and a more definite
policy on the part of the United States. One thing
is sure, the Allies are going to make a determined
effort to force peace, a righteous and permanent
peace.
Your last letter said that all were well at home.
It is a comfort to think of the home life going stead-
ily and bravely ahead. Dearest love to you all.
January 12, 1917
Dearest Mother:
Another letter came from you on Wednesday,
forwarded from Crowborough and dated Novem-
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LETTERS FROM FRANCE
ber 17th. It makes me think that they will all come
eventually, and no matter when they come your
letters are a joy to me, so that this delay only
means that I am rolling up pleasures ahead. I sent
word Wednesday to the battalion to hold my mail,
so when I go back Sunday I expect to find some
more.
The course is nearly over. To-morrow, I think,
is the last day. I have learned a great deal, and
the comfortable living was welcome. I wish I could
give it to all the men who are standing by along the
line. Sometimes I have thought that I was not doing
enough, but the final fact is that we are here, ready
to do or suffer anything necessary, and here we
stay as long as it is a physical possibility, until the
victory is won. In the end, it is man power that
will overcome, and each individual furnishes all he
can of that and adds his part of the collective will
to conquer.
In your letter you speak of the war stretching
out interminably ? It does in a way seem so, and
yet determined as the resistance has been, and skil-
ful as the enemy's strategists are, there must be
a limit to their powers. We will not know what
that limit is until we come on it suddenly, like the
breaking-point of a steel bar after it has been
stretched. The Somme battle not only revealed an
unexpected ability and determination to resist, on
105
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
the part of the enemy, but an unexpected power
and determination on our part to break through
the most impregnable defences, and to beat down
the most stubborn resistance. Winter halted op-
erations before either could be fully developed, so
our power, our final power, is still unknown, but
the next campaign should solve the enigma. Far-
seeing Germany is not confident. There is no other
possible meaning to her offer of peace. We are
confident ; our reply signifies that. Military science
gives that feeling primary importance in success-
ful warfare. I am confident because I have seen
and know the feeling of the men. It is as if a great
river must be bridged by building a causeway of
human bodies to allow those that come after to
cross in safety. It has been half-built already, thou-
sands of men have thrown themselves in and
formed a strong foundation, but it is still far below
the water level. The bridge must be built, and we
are ready and waiting for the order to advance.
Clouds are gathering on the horizon of the Cen-
tral Empires. The Austrians and Hungarians are
growing uneasy and need delicate handling, and
now that affairs approach a crisis the veil is drawn
aside and Germany is showing her teeth to the
neutrals. Cardinal Mercier writes, if conditions in
Belgium were known and believed, every civilized
man would take up arms. They are n't believed,
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LETTERS FROM FRANCE
but Holland, Switzerland, and Denmark will be-
lieve if they are invaded. The United States will
believe something if her European commerce is
blockaded. The Spanish Government is brushing
away the mental cobwebs. I think we, you and
father and all, may face this new year with a happy
confidence in the future, with the knowledge that
all of us out here, and you over there, are deter-
mined to storm through the evil and right this
terrible wrong. We have heard the cry of anguish
and are answering it. It may be that God does not
require my body for this causeway, but if that is
his choice, we are ready and willing to give, and
that way is the road to victory.
I feel as though I had been giving away a little
to a heroic style of writing, but you know that I
do not mean it that way. I know things are hard
for you and I want to let you know that it is n't
in vain that there is a definite goal you are fight-
ing to reach, and are going to reach. I want you
to feel the strength that comes to a fighter who
knows that he will win.
Dearest love to you and father.
January 17, 1917
Dearest Mother :
We are out of the trenches again for our rest in
billets. I was only in for two days after returning
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AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
from the training school, and they were very quiet.
Your letter which I have been waiting for so very
long is come. It was written after receiving mine
from London when I was getting my kit ; and just
now come the letter you wrote on December 5th,
when you received my cable, and also one dated
December 29th, telling me that you had received
my Christmas cable and the little French Christmas
cards. It was a great joy having all your news of
Christmas, and to think of your dressing the church
and thinking of me while you were doing it, and
then going to the six o'clock mass early Christmas
morning, and your Christmas dinner with the little
tree and my picture underneath. It all brings home
back to me so.
You say I have never been in 2510, and yet I
feel as though I have been there. Iknow^ just how
it looks. I know the street and the neighborhood,
and I know all the dear old furniture and the in-
side atmosphere of our home, which never changes,
— our Lares and Penates, — and I picture you and
father there at the two ends of our round table. It
was a dear memory and knowledge. If I just shut
my eyes I can hear you talking. I can never know
a table which so utterly satisfies my mind and soul
as my own home, and now that I have gone so far
away and seen other countries and known that ex-
perience of facing death in another land, I have
108
LETTERS FROM FRANCE
fulfilled the tearing desire of seeking life away from
home. L. E., when I tried to explain to him why
I couldn't be happy in Philadelphia just going
ahead, said it was the usual thing," and that an
engineer was never any good until he had given
rein to the wandering spirit and allowed it to run
out. He said that the time would come when it
would go away, and I know that it has now. If
I do not finish my work here, there is no telling
where I may finally be called, but in any case I will
be happy to settle, and if it should be at home, I
will be very happy there.
I know that having my letter was a comfort to
you, as you finished the work of dressing the
church. I am so glad you all like the French cards.
I thought they were lovely, and specially the sol-
diers worshipping. There was a very sweet little
French girl in the shop where I bought them who
spoke very good English, which she said she
learned at school. She spent about an hour hunt-
ing cards for me, and was very interested in Billy
and Margy and the cards and little books I found
for them. In the end I gave her a franc, and she
did n't want to take it until I said, "Pour Noel " ;
then she was full of smiles and said, " Merci bien,
monsieur."
To-night, father's letter of congratulation, writ-
ten when he received my cable, came too, both on
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AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
the same day, yours and his. And now I come
to your Christmas parcel ; that came too, and to-
night at supper we had the little Christmas tree
on the table with the candles lighted, and every
one admired it. I loved everything in the parcel ;
the little towel and cold cream soap were so ex-
actly the sort of thing I liked, the outside world
touch, — and your Christmas crullers, they were
delicious ! One of my fellow subalterns in D Com-
pany, one of the nicest little chaps you ever knew,
said to tell you that they were the best things he
ever tasted. I told him he ought to see them when
they were just baked. And the dates, and fruit-
cake, and crackers were delicious. I loved it all,
and the thought that you and father had been
thinking of me, and I loved the card in your last
letter, the Belgian Madonna, and the little card
that brought ^'Merrie Christmas over land and
sea, ' ' which a boy was selling ' ' to help his mother. ' '
It was a dear little appeal.
It is getting late, so I will stop for a while, but
I have much more to tell you to-morrow.
Dearest love to father.
January 18, 1917
Dear Father :
Your letter of December 6th, saying that you have
received my cable, and your last, December 27th,
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LETTERS FROM FRANCE
are both here. From now on I think that my mail
will come regularly. I am glad you like the gloves.
They were just a remembrance. I spent an hour on
Regent Street, my last afternoon in London. It was
crowded with Christmas shoppers, and the bright
stores were very attractive in contrast to the dark-
ened streets. The shop where I got the gloves was
full of fascinating things of leather.
London seems a long way off now. We are out
on another short rest in billets, and this time in huts,
but quite comfortable ones. After finishing at the
school, I went back into the trenches for two days,
and then came out with the company. We put up
for two nights in the upstairs of a town hall. Most
of the window panes were out, so it was rather bleak
and chilly. The mayor lived in an adjoining house
and had a warm living room, with a stove in it, so
the captain and I and one of the other D Company
subs paid him a visit. He is a very pleasant and
hospitable old chap, and his wife and daughter were
pleasant too, and we spent the better part of the
evening there, talking broken French. His wife
made coffee, and he brought out the Cognac bottle
and added a little sparkle to it. It was very good.
He showed us the picture of his son, who is an offi-
cer in the French artillery, and a fine-looking chap
with a full beard.
To-day we moved to our present location, and it
111
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
is possible that we will make another move before
we go into the line again. The military situation
is in the portentous stage. I wish I could discuss
things more with you, but even this allusion is for-
bidden. You are really in a much better position to
know and follow developments than I am, and form
your own conclusions. We can only hope and pray
for a speedy victory. I think that the Allies' terms
were the reasonable and just outcome of what has
happened, but whether we can gain them all is still
uncertain. The United States is really acting as an
intelligent outsider in that it has offered a means for
the belligerents, or rather the Allies, to make a defi-
nite statement of terms without attempting useless
negotiations. It is a day of momentous happenings,
but I hope it will come to an end before many more
months, the fighting part of it anyway, and the ci-
vilian suffering which the fighting is causing. Still,
we must win a victory, or the people in Europe will
suffer interminably.
Dearest love to you and mother.
January 20, 1917
Dearest Mother :
We are still in billets ; that is, out of the trenches,
but I do not know for how many days. We moved
from the Mairie, where I wrote you last Wednes-
day, and now we are in a hut camp. It is very com-
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LETTERS FROM FRANCE
fortable, especially our quarters. We have beds and
a very hot stove. It is a little too hot for me. The
ground is covered with snow and there is a brisk
snap to the air. To-day has been beautiful. We
are rather at loose ends just now, on the eve of a
reorganization, so there are no parades or regular
work. This afternoon I hope to be able to arrange
a bathing parade to a near-by village, where there
are some baths. Charles H.'s company headquar-
ters are in this place, but he is in the line just now.
I called him up on the telephone and had a little talk
with him.
I know how much you are with me in your heart
and thought all the time, and it is strength and com-
fort for me to know that you are going ahead with
your work, just as steadily as we all must. Pres-
ident Wilson's note gave the belligerents a chance
to exchange views without entering into negotia-
tion relations ; that is exactly what the Allies wanted
and what Germany did not want, and there is no
question who came out on top in the exchange of
opinions. Germany now has our official word as to
what we are fighting for, and how little we expect
an early or easy settlement. The German people,
too, ought to have a more sober and thorough re-
alization of actual conditions . There is no doubt that
the United States will be able to play an important
part in future events.
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You were asking me about things to send. It is
the little toilet things I need, mainly tooth brush
and paste ; about once every two months, though,
is often enough for the former. Just at present I
need a hair brush and comb, not two brushes, just
one small one, the smaller the better ; and, if you
can, make a little bag to hold it. I have two bath
towels and two or three little face towels you have
sent, but I would like one of those little rubber
sponges, and handkerchiefs, and an occasional pair
of socks are always most welcome. Your friend,
Mrs. H., sent me a lovely knitted scarf, which I
must acknowledge.
It is time for me to go off and try to arrange for
the baths, so I will stop for a while. Dearest love to
you and father and Susan.
January 23, 1917
Dear Father :
Your letters of December 20th and 22d came this
week, and I had that of the 29th more than a week
ago. I hope that my letters are beginning to come
through fairly regularly now, though we cannot ex-
pect too much under the circumstances. It must
have taken a long time to get the first ones from
France.
What do you think of this new raider? The
Germans are very consistent with their high sea
114
LETTERS FROM FRANCE
offensive, and we cannot underestimate the seri-
ousness of the situation. The raider and subma-
rine are Germany's most formidable weapons, and
greatly increase the power of resistance. Everything
is well with me.
We are back in support, but instead of being
in the trenches are billeted in a ruined, or semi-
ruined, village just behind, and as usual have fixed
things up comfortably. There was a stove in very
good condition in the room in which we have taken
our quarters, and it serves the double purpose of
keeping us warm and cooking our meals. The
engineers built us a table and some benches and
bunks for furniture. It is still cold and clear, and the
snow is still on the ground, which makes things
very pretty and not at all warlike.
When you said that bringing the Kaiser to his
knees is the only way out, I think you summed up
the whole situation. As George Ade would put it,
you said a ' ' mouthful. ' ' But there is a tremendous
task ahead of us. Your three ' ' North Americans ' '
arrived this evening, with their editorials on Pres-
ident Wilson's note. I enjoyed them very much,
and they seemed to sum up the situation. There is
no question but that Germany will launch forth her
U-boat warfare at the first good opportunity, and
then the United States will either be involved or sit
still and suffer a virtual blockade. If only our far-
115
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
seeing statesmen would understand how they could
secure their own safety, as well as that of Europe
and the world, by closing in and taking the bull by
the horns and helping us to wipe out this menace
to the world !
It is late, and I must take a working party into
the trenches early to-morrow morning, so I must
stop.
Very much love to you both.
January 24^ 1917
Dearest Mother :
Your letter of December 20th came the other
night, although I had one dated the 24th last week.
The last was written in the Harrisburg State House.
I remember the capitol and the gray squirrels in
the park very well.
The cold weather is still with us, and the snow
has not melted since it came down a week ago.
The country is very beautiful. It stretches away
from here very smoothly, and one can see several
villages and the tree-bordered roads. Everything
sparkles in the sunshine, and one can hardly be-
lieve the constant rumble and roar of guns, far
away and close at hand. This little village has
been shelled heavily in its history, but a large pro-
portion of it is still in good condition and one can
easily imagine what it must be like in peace time.
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LETTERS FROM FRANCE
It all centres about the little church, which faces a
big, open park. There is a great, jagged hole torn
out of one side of the steeple, a famiHar sight over
here. Then there are the usual half-dozen or so
big houses, with spacious grounds surrounded with
high walls of stone or brick.
France in peace time must be lovely, but now
in these towns that I see, many of the houses are
ruined, and those that are n't are dilapidated and
in bad repair. Houses that are uninhabited are
dismal looking enough, but a village in that con-
dition is intensely so. This special one has been
taken over by troops for billeting purposes, so it is
clean and neat, but homeless. We are quartered
in the kitchen, living room, of a little cottage in
quite good repair. There was one of those French
stoves in it, which keep us warm and cook our
meals and the engineers built us bunks, benches,
and a table. There is a crucifix on the wall, as is
invariable in French cottages, and a big composi-
tion statue of the Virgin, about three fe^t high, on
a pedestal. It is very pretty, and one of the bat-
men washed it with a rag and water.
I know how your mind flashes out its wireless
messages to me, and you may be sure that mine
responds to it. I always think of you especially in
the most trying times, and you always seem near
to me. Pray that I will have strength and cour-
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AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
age when my testing time comes. Dearest mother,
you are one of the blessed islands in a world that
seems a shifting, uncertain sea. Love to father
and Sue. Good-night, dear.
January 28, 1917
Dearest Mother :
Your long letter, started on New Year's morn-
ing, came to me day before yesterday, and was
full of comfort and strength. I thought the state-
ment by the Churchmen in the ' ' North Ameri-
can" was splendid, and almost voiced the Allies'
thought in prosecuting the war to a finish, so that
in future any nation which contemplates breaking
treaties and international laws will hesitate to call
up the indignation and resistance of all nations. I
also received your copy of the programme of the
meeting of the Academy of Music to protest against
the deportation of the Belgians. The list of names
seems very important and representative, and such
resolutions as the meeting passed should have
weight at Washington. By now you have the
Allies' reply to the President's note and Mr. Bal-
four's further message. Both, I think, were very
clear and good. There is nothing for us to do, but
wait the event of our offensive, and pray that we
may succeed in our effort. For me, you must pray
for strength and courage to do my duty.
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LETTERS FROM FRANCE
You know by now that Charlie H. has been
wounded. I did not know until yesterday morn-
ing, when I went to his headquarters to try to
locate him. They told me he was at a clearing
station about six miles away, and so yesterday
afternoon I walked to it and saw him. He looked
very pale and weak, but they say he is going to
pull through all right. He expected to be sent to
England to-day, and I do hope he was, and will
arrive there very shortly. His poor wife and mother
must have suffered great anxiety, but now I be-
lieve they have relief and comfort in store for
them. Charles's wound is serious, and it will be
a long, long time before he is in shape again.
What a mercy that his wife is where she can be
with him in his sickness.
You were right about my experience at the base
being only a momentary prosperity. There is no
lack of opportunity for service of every kind, and
it is entirely up to the individual how much he
does. I am afraid that I might have made more
use of myself up to the present, but I am trying
to do my best. It takes a big man to be worthy
of stars. We have been in billets now for two
weeks, and to-morrow we expect to go back into
the line for a short tour. Naturally, just at pres-
ent there is some uncertainty about things. The
weather still stays very cold and the snow is frozen
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hard on the ground. I was talking to a French-
man who gave me a lift in his cart on my way
back from seeing Charlie H. at the hospital, and
he told me that it was only cold here, this way,
every fourth year. So far as the trenches are con-
cerned it improves conditions, for the sides are
stiff and the mud dried up.
My company commander is in the hospital in the
same w^ard that Charlie H. is, with the ''grippe."
He just sent me word by his groom that Charlie
is still there, and not likely to be moved for several
days. More anxious waiting for them all, I am
afraid.
Well, dearest, it is getting near the time for the
mail to go out, so I had better close. As always I
am in splendid health and of good heart, only anx-
ious for the time to come when I can do my utmost
for this cause we have so much at heart. May
God bless my desire to be worthy, with the power
to act. Surely it is his will that I am serving here
with the Allies. Much love to father. I have his
French dictionary. Good-night, dear heart.
January 31, 1917
Dearest Mother:
I am writing this in a front-line dug-out. This
is our third day in the line and we have three
more to go, I think, possibly a few more. It has
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LETTERS FROM FRANCE
been quite cold and the ground is still covered with
snow. Last night it snowed quite a lot more. It is
a very pretty picture, and a new one to me to see
the trenches in this condition. The nights just now
are very bright with moonlight, and one gets to
like going through the trenches and out in the
saps. So far things have been very quiet. Last
night was especially so ; this morning I was on
duty at six o'clock, just as day was breaking, and
it was the most beautiful rosy dawn. The guns
had been quiet for an hour or two, and some sweet
noted birds were fluttering around. Things of that
sort bring home the realization of the peacefulness
of peace.
It is hard for me to feel justified in deliberate
hostile planning, and yet one cannot help doing it.
I must remember that though perhaps these men
desire peace as greatly as any one, yet they are the
tools of those who have destroyed peace, and we
can only gain our end by continually harassing
and destroying them, and wearing down their
morale. It is a grim business, and I hope it will
come to an end before many months. What every-
thing really hinges on is a concentrated offensive,
and I hope that it may not be long in coming. I
have not seen a paper now since last Saturday,
and one is quite isolated here, so I do not know
what developments may have taken place on other
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AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
fronts ; there are always rumors circulating. Time
passes quickly enough, but one longs for the day
of decision to come. However, it is not for me,
who have been here but a little more than a month,
to be impatient, when some have been here for two
years.
Dearest mother, good-bye for a while. Dearest
love to father.
February 3, 1917
Dearest Mother :
Day before yesterday I received two letters from
you, January 8th and 12th, and two of the same
date from father. My mail is coming very satis-
factorily now, and I have letters in two or three
mails from you each week. You had received my
first two letters from the trenches when I was just
breaking in again. It was a little hard for me,
and my letters must have shown it, but now I am
as good as ever. My spirits are of the best, and I
am quite content to live in the present and ' ' carry
on ' ' with my duty in the best way that I know
how. We are still in the front line and probably
have a day or two more.
Your description of the meeting in the Academy
of Music is very inspiring. If popular feeling is
really so strong, it should lead to action, but the
mills of the gods are very slow. I think most
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LETTERS FROM FRANCE
English people feel that their government is doing
its best to carry out their wishes just now. Any-
one who can see no threat to the U.S. in the
avowed submarine intentions of Germany must be
blind. Why wait till the crash comes before act-
ing?
I am glad that Billy likes his boy scout suit. It
wasn't a very elaborate one, but I do not think
one more so would have pleased him more. As I
remember my ' ' little boy days ' ' the hat was the
main feature of any outfit, and such other details
as a sword or a belt were more than sufficient ac-
companiments . Next Christmas he shall have some
regulation things, and when he is eight he must
be a '' tenderfoot." I think it is a splendid thing.
There cannot be a man out here who feels more
content about home than I. You and father have
made it so clear that my duty to you is not neg-
lected by my being here. I must stop for a while
now and censor some of the men's letters, so that
they will catch this mail. Dearest love to you
both.
February 7, 1917
Dearest Mother :
Your letter of January 19th came day before yes-
terday. I do not know that the inails are running
very often now, but your letters come two or three
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times a week and give me great joy. I am glad
you like the French picture. I really did not think
it would amount to anything, but just wanted to
give you an idea of the uniform. I was n't able to
find much of a photographer, but I am glad he
managed to make a picture that pleased you.
We came out of the front line, where we had
been for seven days, yesterday, and in all that
time I had n't seen a newspaper. You can imagine
my feelings on reading of Germany's U-boat note
and the crisis in the United States. Then yester-
day we learned that BernstorfF and his colleagues
had been given their passports and Gerard re-
called, so in the twinkling of an eye, the thing we
have been longing for so long has happened. Now,
we can breathe freely and hold our heads up. I
remember saying in a letter to you last week that
there was no doubt about the menace to the United
States in the new submarine policy. To-day it
seems as though war was inevitable. I can im-
agine how excitement must run high at home,
and the crowds watching the bulletin boards. I
know the people want the President to act quickly
to protect us against external and internal attacks,
and I think that he will do it. We can never sub-
mit to the weekly trip to Falmouth which Ger-
many has instructed us to make, and there is only
one other alternative ; the Central Empires are tak-
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LETTERS FROM FRANCE
ing their last desperate chance and are determined
to go through with it. This great time is what you
have foreseen for the last two years. We could not
keep out and go free. There is suffering and trou-
blous times ahead for all of us. The main thing is to
act quickly, and not allow Germany to strike first.
Our papers are a day late, but I am impatient
for to-morrow. I long to hear that we have de-
clared war and will send an army to France. It
will mean suffering, but will hasten the end and
will bring peace to the world sooner. It is strange
to think of all the excitement and tense feeling at
home, and to sit here not very far back of the
line, in all the busy action and sounds that tell of
the Allied determination to prosecute the matter to
the finish. I did not realize before what a tremen-
dous stimulus there is in the thought that one
is doing this for one's own country. If by any
chance we do have an army here, and it is pos-
sible for me to transfer to it, I surely will. That
is a wonderful thought, to be fighting under the
American flag.
I have been attending a special *' two-day"
course on tactics these last two days, so that I
have n't written, my time was so full. It is still
intensely cold and the snow unmelted. The expe-
rience of the trenches under such exceptional win-
ter conditions was worth having.
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AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
Well, dear mother, I must stop now; it is very
late. Dearest love to you and father. Good-
night.
February 9, IQUT
Dear Father :
I have letters from you dated January 5th, 8th,
12th, and 19th. My letters are coming with great
regularity and frequency now. I am wondering if
the U-boats will manage to hold the mail up. I can
hardly wait for the paper every morning, to see
what further has been developed in the American
situation. It is too bad that the German crews were
permitted to disable their ships, for they would prove
valuable for transport and labor purposes. I hope
that the United States will not have to learn from
bitter experience the necessity of the internment of
enemy subjects in case war is declared. Undoubt-
edly there will be much internal trouble and plot-
ting, but nothing, I think, that cannot be handled
by our police and regular forces. Last summer's
mobilization and training camps should stand us in
good stead now.
You are right about the C.M.R.'s, they have
had a very eventful history in France. My com-
pany commander is one of the very few original
battalion officers left, and I have already told you
how marvellously he escaped at the Somme.
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LETTERS FROM FRANCE
The weather is still very cold and the snow has
shown no sign of going away. I keep well and we
always manage to fix up very comfortably. We
have our cook and servants and run a company
mess, which is very good and costs less than two
francs a day, which you must admit isn't much.
My combination bed-roll and valise is great. Of
course it can't be taken into the line, but when we
are out it always assures us a warm, comfortable
sleep. I wish all the men had them.
This fine weather brings the aeroplanes in swarms,
and there is usually a fight or shelling going on. I
can hear our guns shelling a German plane now.
The Archies are easily distinguishable from other
artillery. This morning they brought one down,
but I was a minute too late to see it. I think I will
go out and have a look now. He got away from
here, but other batteries in the distance are picking
him up. The sky is dotted with tiny white clouds
from the shell-bursts.
I wish I could sit down and write you fully of
all the happenings over here, but we must wait till
'* apres la guerre," Dearest love to you all,
February 14, 1917
Dearest Mother:
Here I am in a little French village, quite a dis-
tance back of the line. The battalion is here for a
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AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
short period of training. We all of us, officers and
men, have quite comfortable billets, and it is a pleas-
ure to get back to training again, much as that is
hated in England. The men take a big interest in
physical training and drill after the enforced slack-
ness of trench life. They have a chance to get
cleaned up and put their clothes in a decent con-
dition again, and to get rid of their colds and sick-
ness. We officers live in farmhouses, and have beds
with white sheets on them. You can imagine the
luxury of that. French beds are made of mattresses
about two feet thick, so you see it is quite a change
from floors.
The people here are very friendly, and we hold
long conversations with them. Many are refugees
from occupied territory, and all have husbands or
sons at the front. The husband of the woman who
is my landlady has been a prisoner of war since
October, 1914. He writes to her once a week, and
she manages to send him food; so far, she says, he is
in good health. The children in the different houses
are especially attractive. I have just been playing
with some, and a doll named "Augusta," which
I dressed in various costumes, much to their de-
light. They were also much amused at my French,
I think. I find father's lexicon a great help.
We came here by a two-days' march, and the
men stood it remarkably well, when one considers
128
LETTERS FROM FRANCE
that we have had nothing of the kind for a long
time. We stopped over night in the town half way
along, and I ran into one of my old friends, B. S.
from Toronto. He is sergeant major of a column of
mechanical transport ; that is, big motor trucks that
carry supplies and ammunition. He was dumb-
founded at seeing me, for he did n't know that I
was out here. He looked, and was, the same as ever,
and we spent the evening together. Did I tell you
that one of the old rodmen was sergeant major of
one of the companies of my battalion ? It seemed
funny to see him out here, as he was my companion
on a great many surveys in the Toronto terminals.
It was interesting to march through this district
of France and see the villages and people. I always
think what a lovely country it must be in peace
time, and what a pleasure it would be to travel
peacefully here. Perhaps one day we can, together.
The weather is warmer, very bright and sunshiny,
and the houses where we are on the outskirts of the
town, with the fields adjoining us, remind me of
Mount Holly at this time of year. I went to the hos-
pital where Charlie H. was just before we came
away, and found that he was much better and had
been sent down to the base, so I hope by now his
people are very much reassured and that he will
soon be in England.
The situation between Germany and the United
129
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
States remains the same, but one expects to hear
of the break daily. There seem to be rumors that
the Germans' bluff is called and that they will not
dare to sink a United States ship, but I have my
doubts about that. I feel sure that things will come
to a head in a very short time, and that very likely
the United States will not only declare war, but send
an army to France ; the sooner the better, for we
must win a definite military victory, and need all
possible strength. The greater and stronger the
army, the sooner the war will be ended and the less
the suffering entailed. We hear daily of minor op-
erations on the Somme, and all of them spell small
gains, but it amounts to little more than jockeying
for a starting-post. When the great effort comes
it will be the most tremendous crash in history. I
hope it will be soon, for further delay only means
further misery. One hates to think of the condition
of people in occupied territory and the prisoners of
war, now that the surveillance and protection of the
United States have been withdrawn.
Mail has been held up lately, and I wonder if the
U-boat war has anything to do with it. I feel sure
that some of my mail was on the California. I sup-
pose my letters to you will be held up too. Well,
dear heart, we must make the best of things. I
write often, so some of my letters should get through.
Dearest love to you and father.
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LETTERS FROM FRANCE
February 21, 191 7
Ash Wednesday
Dearest Mother :
Here we are at the beginning of another Lent,
although it is not quite a year since the first time
that I came to France. This week I have had your
long letter of January 26th, — one from father, and
the crucifix. It is just the same as the first, and
I am glad to have it again pinned inside of my
breast pocket. Thank you for having it fixed and
sent so quickly. Father's cable, dated February
9th, reached me a few days later. I must send
you one before we leave here. We are still in the
" rest," and have, I think, about a week more.
I have told you about the village and how
friendly all the people are. I have long conversa-
tions with the madame of my billet. She has some
very cunning little children — girls. I think I told
you that her husband is a prisoner of war. When
I go away, I will give her something to send him.
Then there is Madame Duployez, who with her
mother and father and little son are refugees from
Lens. C, another D Company officer, and I often
call on her, and she is delighted to see us. She is
very bright and gay, and her mother is very nice
too, they always give us "cafe noir." Her husband
has been in the army from the start, and through
all the big engagements. He was due home on a
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AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
seven-days' leave a few days ago, but the day he
was expected, she had a letter saying that leave
was cancelled, owing to the German offensive in
Champagne ; that is his area.
Our papers are not coming at all well now,
and we have n't seen one since Saturday, so I do
not know how the Germans have progressed, or
whether it was only a minor operation. In any
event, it is not likely to affect general progress on
our part. There seems to be a pause in the U-boat
campaign as far as neutrals are concerned, but I
still think that we cannot help becoming involved.
If Germany's blockade is to be effective it must
debar neutral trade. They say that the British war
loan has been a tremendous success, so that should
help matters. We go on steadily here with our
training every day. It has been growing warmer
and the ground is muddy again, but that does not
amount to anything out here.
My letters do not seem to have any news in
them, because there is so much repressed that I
long to tell you. You must know how much I
think of you, and long that you could be spared all
this anxiety ; and yet I know that you rejoice to bear
that part in the victory that must be won. Dear-
est mother, you will never know how much I owe
to you for strength, and courage, and inspiration
to carry me through this.
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LETTERS FROM FRANCE
I am sitting here now in my room writing at a
big round-fronted table, by the light of two can-
dles. My books and various possessions are on the
table, and it reminds me in a way of my Toronto
table. My high bed, with its white sheet and
counterpane and white pillow, is at my right side,
and on the left a casement window which opens
into the barnyard. The door is right behind me
and opens into the kitchen, and on both sides of
it I have hooks to hang my clothes on. A little
while ago the family were all in there by the stove,
the children chatting away, but now they are in
bed. Some time ago, too, madame gave a soft
' ' Bon soir, monsieur, ' ' and went into her part of
the house, which is on the opposite side of the
kitchen.
I love the politeness of the French people and
children, the infinite compliment they are able to
express in their *' monsieur " without the slightest
trace of servility. Say '' Hello" to the veriest rag-
amuffin, and you will always receive a polite "Bon
jour, monsieur." Madame Duployez, who does
my washing beautifully, and whose husband in
civilian life is a coal miner, entertains me in her.
kitchen and living-room as nicely as I have ever
been entertained, and I always enjoy my visits
there. If you receive a letter in French, you must
answer it in the same language;
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AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
It is very late. I must write oftener. Forgive
the apparent dryness of this. Dearest mother, you
know how much love and thought I have for you
always. Much love to father.
February 24, 1917
Dear Father :
We are nearing the end of our second week
here, and it is nearly time for us to go back again.
I waited until a day or two ago to reply to your
cable. Every time that I write now I wonder
whether or not my letter will get across to you.
Day by day we watch the papers for the news
that the United States has declared war, but every
day it seems to be the same : preparations going
on, but nothing definite decided. The two steam-
ers — Orleans and Rochester — that were sent out
as test cases have not yet been heard from. The
other boats are delaying their sailings until the
Government decides whether or not they must be
armed. I suppose all that means a big mail delay,
and probably in the future, until we get things
more straightened out, there will be many delays,
and we must content ourselves with letters at longer
intervals.
We have devoted our time here to serious train-
ing, and I think that all the men are in better shape
than they have been for a long time. The com-
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LETTERS FROM FRANCE
fortable living conditions and freedom from the
mental strain of the line has done wonders. After
being in the trenches, time in a place of this sort
passes very quickly. The comfortable bed with
sheets on it proved tremendously attractive in the
early evening at first, and then we came to know
several of the families and visited them. It is very
amusing to talk French, and I am getting along
quite well with the pronunciation, but my vocabu-
lary still leaves much to be desired. Your diction-
ary is invaluable. To-morrow afternoon one of
my best friends, Madame Duployez, is going to
make waffles for me, so I have a treat in store.
One of the subs has a mandolin, which he plays
very well, and we have borrowing privileges of a
phonograph with some very good records, so on
occasions a pleasant evening can be had. There
is a fairly large town not far away, and we went
there and had a picture taken of the D Company
officers, and I had a separate one taken, which I
hope will find their way to you some time. I won't
risk them on one ship. I was very glad to hear
that you had seen the Somme pictures. I saw
them last summer at Folkestone, and thought them
splendid. The man who took them did so at as
much risk as the holding soldier, and that is very
great. I hope that they did not censor any part of
them*
135
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
I am keeping splendidly well, and this rest has
gotten me into very good shape, so that I feel fit
for anything. We have a summer of hard work
ahead of us, but, God willing, we will accomplish
the task that is set, I only hope that Mr. Roose-
velt will get over here with his men in time to give
us a hand. More and more the bigger men are
beginning to see things in their true light. A day
or two ago the paper published some very pungent
truths spoken by Elihu Root.
It is late, so I must stop. My thoughts are
always turning to home and the dear people who
are thinking and praying for me. All I ask is that
my actions here may be worthy of the ideals you
have taught me. Dearest love to mother and to
you.
February 25, 1917
Dearest Mother :
This, I think, is our last Sunday in "rest,"
and it has been a beautiful day. Chilly at first, but
then toward noon the sun came out brightly, and
it grew warm and springlike. We had church
service in the open, and then at eleven, the Holy
Communion in the village school-house ; a simple,
comfortable service.
One of the chief regrets of the battalion is that
Captain H. has been transferred to the Divisional
136
LETTERS FROM FRANCE
Artillery. This afternoon I took a walk with C,
one of D Company lieutenants, and we called on
Madame Duployez. She made waffles — " gauf-
fres " — for us, as she had promised. Her hus-
band's leave has been postponed again.
We are still working hard at our training, and
expect to remain here several days more. With
the first of March that great spring we have been
waiting for will be well on the way, and God grant
success to our arms when we can finally attack.
We must drive the Germans back and overwhelm
them ; that is the only thing that can bring an end
to all this terrible suffering and shadow that has
fallen on the world, and that must be our strength
when we go into it.
Yesterday's papers told of Lloyd George's great
speech and the drastic restrictions to be put on the
imports, and its immediate acceptance gives one
confidence in the sincerity and determination of the
English people to do everything and make every
sacrifice to win. The men who have been striving
and wrestling with the spirit of the nation have won
out in their great battle, and now we must do the
very best that we can to win ours. Every day I look
for the great news from the United States, but it
has not come yet. Still I believe that every day
brings it nearer. The news that Colonel Roose-
velt has already laid plans for a speedy mobilization
137
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
of an army of oiFence is very welcome, and so is
it that Root and others are clear as to our duty
in regard to international integrity and respect of
treaties. I know that you are burning with the
delay of our own action, and it is a hard burden
to bear, but we must be patient, for there is much
enduring ahead to be done. Our mail will be de-
layed and perhaps some lost, but we will suffer
that too. *' C'est la guerre," and this is our war,
which we are glad to endure for what its victory
will mean.
It is late again, so I will go to bed. Dearest love
for all.
March 2, 191/
Dearest Mother:
Your letter of February 2d is here, written after
Germany's famous declaration, and to-day's paper,
or rather yesterday's, gives us news of a tremen-
dous agitation in the United States over the sinking
of the Laconia, and says that war was only a mat-
ter of forty-eight hours. I hope so. I do not see how
we can ignore the overt act upon which the Pres-
ident has set such store. Von HoUweg's speech
in the Reichstag only aggravates the offence. We
eagerly wait the news.
There has been splendid report of progress on
the Ancre. The Germans are making a speedy
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LETTERS FROM FRANCE
retirement, and many villages are falling into our
hands which were expected to cost dearly. There
is a tendency to consider it a part of the German
plan to shorten their front, but to do that effectively
it will be necessary to retire on an extensive scale,
and the wisdom of that is doubtful. There is great
news of British success against the Turks in Meso-
potamia. We can only hope and pray that the tide
is on the turn. If only we can pierce that line some-
where in its length !
As you can see, we are still in our training place.
The length of our stay was increased for some rea-
son, and so we have had a chance to train to a much
greater degree of efficiency, and are much better
for our stay here. The back of the winter is broken,
and though March is an unpleasant month, each
day that goes by brings us nearer to an end of the
suffering from cold, or rather discomfort ; there has
been really not much suffering on this point. Es-
pecially it brings us nearer to that happy time when
the mud will get dry again. The weather here has
been very lovely for the most part, and we are lucky
to have had it so. It has been a pleasure to work in
these pleasant sunny fields, and the people of the
village are still friendly and hospitable, so the time
goes quickly.
Your letter was another of those wonderful in-
spirations and encouragements. Your praying for
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AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
victory breathes the fighting spirit which we will all
need so badly before long. Your description of the
pilgrimage of prayer is fine. It is a splendid and
much needed thing. One of our gains from this
war is the realization we have of the need of it all.
A heavy United States mail is reported lost on
the Laconia, and more than likely there were letters
for me in it. I cannot think that the Government
will block foreign mail, but it may be necessary to
restrict sailings. Father's telegram prepared me to
expect delays. This is Saturday afternoon, and a
half holiday. My platoon has asked me to play on
their soccer team against another platoon, and it
is time for me to go now, so I will come back to
finish.
I have finished the soccer game, which was good
fun, and then had my weekly hot bath at Madame
Duployez' and a change into clean clothes. Ma-
dame fills a wash-tub — the ordinary wooden va-
riety— with hot water, and then places a bucket of
cold water beside it. I temper the bath, and then,
when I have finished, pour the rest of the cold water
over me as a "douche." It is an excellent way to
bathe . She washes my clothes , and does them beau-
tifully. Her husband has finally returned for his
leave, and instead of seven days, he has a month in
which to work in the mines, for the Government is
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LETTERS FROM FRANCE
greatly in need of coal. He is a doughty "poilu "
and very interesting to talk to, for he has been
through all the big campaigns, including Verdun.
After my bath, I went to dinner and found a
letter from J. H. from the hospital in Boulogne
where C. is. She was telegraphed for when he ar-
rived there, because he had another hard pull, I
suppose. Anyway, now she is with him and feels
cheered by his progress, and thankful to have him
back, away from the front. He has surely done his
share, and I hope he has finished with all the hard-
ships. I hope, too, that his mother can soon be
relieved of her anxious suffering.
To-morrow is Sunday and there is to be an early
service in the school-house at eight. I thought last
Sunday would be the last here, but I am sure this
will be, though there may still be several days. We
have had a long rest and are in good condition to
return to our work. Dearest mother, my heart is
always turning to you and praying that you may
have grace to endure the trials, and that we may
soon be together again.
Hhrch 8, 1917
Dearest Mother :
Only a few days more now before we go back into
the line. The village and our billets have become
very homelike, and the constant family gathering
141
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
of the seven of us in the company mess has
brought us very close together. The second win-
ter has set in, but I do not think it will be a long
one. It is quite cold morning and evening, and
there was quite a blizzard of snow this morning.
To-day is the anniversary of my landing in France.
The year has made a big difference ; if I could
have looked ahead and known at the end of that
time I would be an officer, I would have been even
more full of good spirits and cheer than I was.
Two impressions which I will never forget were
my first glimpse of the English coast and my first of
the French. In both cases we landed after nightfall
and had to wait until morning for our first impres-
sion, and both absolutely satisfied me. There was
no sense of disappointment in the thing I had
looked forward to for many years.
I have grown quite accustomed to the daily life
of a French village, mostly farmers and coal min-
ers. The women do very hard farm- work, plough-
ing and cultivating in the fields and threshing and
taking care of the stock in the barns. Nearly every
afternoon we go to call on Madame Duployez (or
Capron ; her father's name is Duployez, her hus-
band's Capron) for a half-hour or so before din-
ner, and she always has black coffee, which I must
confess I am not overfond of ; it is very bitter. It
is a pleasant relaxation to talk French, and they
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are used to my variety, so have no difficulty in
understanding me.
We are all looking forward to the opening of a
new campaign with confidence and hope. It is
bound to cost dear, but I think all of us are ready
to pay anything asked.
Affairs in the United States seem to become
more complicated every day. The beginning of
the week brought the news of the German plot
with Mexico and Japan, almost a direct corrobora-
tion of our expectations and thoughts months and
months ago. This comes on top of a fresh Lusi-
tania crime and Von Hollweg's reiteration of Ger-
many's will to continue high-sea piracy and lying
accusations against the good faith of the United
States Government, and on top of the whole thing
comes a newspaper yesterday, telling us that eleven
senators were able to block the bill to arm mer-
chantmen. Some American newspaper comments
termed the action ''treason." It most certainly
was that, and the perpetrators should be punished
for that very crime, but of course they won't be.
I know how the whole thing goads you and father
and the rest of the Americans who are loyal to
their country and whose sun does not rise and set
for their own personal comfort and pleasure.
The British advance on the Somme is encour-
aging, and if the German retirement is a strategi-
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AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
cal attempt to change the method of warfare from
straight trench work, we will welcome it. That is
just what we are looking for. Apparently the Ger-
mans are still butting against the wall of Verdun.
Dearest love to you and father. I think of you
always and am conscious of your prayers and help.
March 11, 1917
Dear Father :
My letters to you lately have not been very fre-
quent ; as a matter of fact there has been little to
write about, but a great deal to keep one busy in
the matter of routine training work. Our rest and
training period, owing to ulterior events, has ex-
tended for a much longer period than any one ex-
pected, but it has been taken advantage of by
every one and we will be much better for it when
we go back. I suppose this is really the first rest
of the sort that this division has ever had.
For some reason the colonel has formed a con-
clusion that I am a bombing expert, and seems to
be manoeuvring toward making me an understudy
to his bombing officer. Last week he took me
away from the company for several days to ex-
periment with rifle grenades, — i.e., find what
range could be obtained with various lengths of
rifle-barrels and rods, — and now he has sent me
to the town where the divisional headquarters is
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LETTERS FROM FRANCE
stationed, to stay with the commandant of the di-
visional school for two or three days and pick up
all the knowledge I can about bombing. The whole
thing is distasteful to me. I am not especially in-
terested in bombs, and do not know any more, if
as much, about them, as the average subaltern,
and it is taking me away from the company on the
eve of big things, when every day counts. But
here I am with some bombing instructors who take
very little interest in things and can teach me little
or nothing that I do not know already, wasting
very valuable time and not in a very pleasant frame
of mind.
The weather has turned cold again, though
nothing Hke what it was in January. At night, one
is glad of all the covers one can get, but during
the day it is fairly warm.
The papers give us continual good news of
progress on the western front. The French have
nullified the German stab in Champagne, the Turks
at Bagdad are in a bad way, and the prospects there
are exhilarating. The frank admission by the Ger-
man Government of their plot to embroil Japan
and Mexico with the United States, now unan-
swered except by bickering in the Senate as to the
advisability of arming merchantmen, is an ab-
surdity.
I hope that you and mother are keeping well
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AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
and as cheerful and as brave as can be. You have
the satisfaction of knowing that you are giving
as much and enduring as much now, as you would
if there were an American army in the field. In
trying to do my duty to the utmost, it will be with
the thought that you are behind me, urging and
encouraging me to fight the enemy of our country
and all people.
The whole tone of the army here is confident
determination. We do not under-estimate the Ger-
man power nor the difficulties that have to be over-
come. We do not imagine that victory will come
easily or in a short time, but we know the temper
of the men, and their skill and abilities. We are
willing to make the necessary sacrifices, and we
know that the people at home are willing to make
theirs. We have leaders, such as Lloyd George
and Joffre, to pit against the Kaiser and Hinden-
burg, and four big devoted nations to pit against
Germany and Austria. Perhaps that does not give
us a heavy handicap, but certainly the English
navy does.
Well, there is little more to say. I am in fine
health ; needless to say, with all this comfortable
living, and my spirits are high. I am eagerly
looking forward to the time when we cease to hold,
and start to drive the Huns back to their own
frontier. We must demonstrate to Hindenburg
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LETTERS FROM FRANCE
that his army is not invincible. A great deal of
love to you and mother. I think of you always.
March 13, 1917
Dearest Mother:
Your letter of February 20th arrived two or
three days ago, while I was away on my little gre-
nade course. It seems to bring you very near, for
it was written while I was here. The letter you sent
Mrs. H. to forward has not arrived yet, but prob-
ably will soon. Now we have the news that Pres-
ident Wilson has issued orders for the merchant
ships to be armed, without waiting for a new vote
in the Senate. From now on, the mails should re-
sume in a way their regularity, though of course
they would not be very frequent.
I doubt if the neutrality myth can be maintained
much longer. To-day we were cheered by the news
that the British had occupied Bagdad, reversing
the fall of Kut last summer. Let us hope that it is
the beginning of a series of victories for the Allies.
The food crisis seems to be coming everywhere.
There will be a potato famine in England and France
very soon. Coal is very scarce here, and I believe
it will soon be confined entirely to war uses. The
world is indeed becoming involved in the mael-
strom, and America cannot possibly escape. The
German influence in Mexico will probably lead to
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AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
another outburst down there. Meanwhile, as you
say, '* all will be well," and we can do our bit
where we are.
Everything goes well with me. We are still here
in the village, going ahead with the training, but
the time for moving is very near. Last week's
cold weather has given way to more softness and
warmth. The hardship due to real cold weather
is over for this winter, though no doubt there will
be plenty of wet, chilly nights. Still, winter itself
has gone, and one can always look ahead for a warm
to-morrow.
I am just going on writing as though the mails
were running regularly. Yesterday I had a lovely
box from Toronto, handkerchiefs, socks, and letter
paper. Father's letter of the 25th came too. Dearest
love to you both.
March 16, 1917
Dear Father :
Your letter of February 23d was waiting for me
on my return to the battalion after the small bomb-
ing course. You had received my letters up to
January 28th, which is pretty good, considering.
We now have news that shipping is resumed and
all liners have orders to fire on U-boats at sight, so
that the mail should be nearly normal again. I do
not think that the Germans will be able to disrupt
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LETTERS FROM FRANCE
traffic seriously, though without doubt there will be
conflicts, and war is sure to result shortly. China
is now added to the enemies of the Central Powers.
One by one all are dropping into line. We have
fresh news of success on the Ancre every day, and
the Bagdad affair is very gratifying. Good news
from the East is a rare article. Our rest is over and
we already have our schedule mapped out. It has
been a very pleasant and at the same time valuable
period for us. There is really no news that I can
tell you. Everything seems to trespass on censor
rulings. I am very well, and my morale is Al. A
great deal of love to you and mother. You are al-
ways in my thoughts.
March 17^ 1917
Dearest Mother :
We are just about leaving our French home. We
will have been here five weeks to-morrow, just twice
and a half as long as we expected. The people
have all been so nice and friendly, and we have been
so comfortable and happy, that we are sorry to go.
The little village and the surrounding fields where
we have trained, the daily farm-work going on
around us, has all grown very familiar. I have
speaking acquaintance with lots of the people and
children. On the other hand, we are glad to be
going up the line again ; that is our business over
149
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
here, and we want to have a part in sending good
news back to the people at home. Every one is in
good physical condition and rested.
Every day we have good news from the Ancre
front. The German retirement is n't such a pre-
arranged movement as they would like us to be-
lieve. One after another our artillery makes their
positions untenable, and the infantry is always push-
ing ahead and hastening their retreat. It is interest-
ing to follow the changing line on the map. I hope
father has a good one. Bagdad is a valuable cap-
ture, especially from the moral point of view, and
yesterday the paper reported that the cavalry had
pushed forty miles beyond.
To-day is beautiful, a crisp, clear wind, and that
liquid, golden sunshine that promises spring in a
few more days. Dearest love, mother, and to father
and to those at the rectory. There is so little to tell
you, that I must write oftener. Think of me as
very happy and content at being here this spring.
France^ March 23, 191 7
Dearest Mother :
Your letter of February 15th, forwarded by Mrs.
H. , reached me to-day, just about a week after that
of the 20th which you posted in Philadelphia. The
idiosyncrasies of present-day mail ! It is marvel-
lous how it manages to get here at all. Your let-
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LETTERS FROM FRANCE
ters are always so personal and full of love that it
does n't matter, whether qr not they arrive chrono-
logically. It is too bad that the big Christmas par-
cel never arrived. I know how much love and care
you put into it. Perhaps even now it will come
some time. Occasionally letters and parcels travel
around aimlessly and are side-tracked, and then
find their way to their destination months later.
Very little news filters through nowadays, and we
do not hear of things until two or three days after
they have happened. Our last word was that the
advance south of Arras by the French and British
was still continuing, and we are full of hope that
the success there and against Turkey also is keep-
ing up. It is remarkable that the German army
can stand up against such continuous and steady
onslaughts as the Allied armies have been making
for the last twelve months. One would expect its
morale really to break even if that of the people
at home does not. When one gets up to the guns
and feels the intensity and determination of the
bombardment, one can realize the point of fierce-
ness this war has reached. The rage of a present-
day battle is an unprecedented thing.
And America, my news of her is days late too.
We only know that war is considered inevitable
and that every preparation is being made to meet
the issue. To-day's paper says that a special ses-
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AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
sion of Congress has been called for April 2d.
Whether it will result in a declaration of war is
uncertain, but I think that it will, for by that time
there will be an aggregation of overt acts and pub-
lic opinion will be insistent. The sooner the better,
for although we have won a great victory there is
still a great deal more to do, and we need help.
I hope the parcel that you sent from Quebec
will arrive, for I know it will have the things that
I want ; not that I am really in need of anything,
but it is nice to get in touch with home and have
things you have had. We are having another
spell of very cold weather, much the same as last
March. I do not suppose we can count on any
real warmth before the middle of April, and then
it will come to stay. Meanwhile, it is clear and
fairly dry, and that is what we need. Dearest love
to you both.
March 24, 191/
Dear Father :
The war is still going on in the same old way,
only the warm weather seems considerably to
quicken activities ; not that the weather is specially
warm ; the last week has been very cold.
You have probably rejoiced with the rest of us
at the big advances in the south. It is a good be-
ginning for our offensive, but if it is true that we
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LETTERS FROM FRANCE
will have to drive the Germans across their own
frontier before they give in, there is a long way
to go. Every one nowadays is indulging in opti-
mistic hopes of a big, general retirement, back to a
secondary line. As a time-gaining manoeuvre it is
certainly good, for it would take a long time to get
our guns into position again, but aside from that
it is hard to see any advantage. The voluntary re-
linquishment of so much hard- won territory is
most certainly an admission of weakness, and I
should not expect it to have a good moral effect on
the people if they are at all inclined to be restless.
It is hard to know what the Russian revolution
will accomplish, whether it will mean a new and
immediate strengthening of the army, or a long
and indefinite period of reorganization and conse-
quent inaction. I am quite sure that Hindenburg
is too much worried with affairs on our front to
attempt to take advantage of the situation with a
northward drive. The papers we have to-day, and
yesterday, are full of the extra session of Con-
gress about to be called and the possibility of the
United States taking an actively offensive part in
the war. I hope it will work that way. We cer-
tainly need all the help we can get, and the sooner
the better.
Mail is a fairly scarce article these days, although
yesterday there was a big one from Canada, after
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none for a fortnight. I had three letters from To-
ronto and one from mother. My last letter from
you was dated February 25th. One of my letters
from Toronto told me that Olaf has a little son, so
the war is not blowing everybody ill. Everything
is well with me : good spirits, health, food, quar-
ters, nothing that I need or could complain of. I
hope that all goes well with you. A great deal of
love to you and mother.
March 27, 1917
Dearest Mother :
Your letter postmarked March 7th arrived yes-
terday. That is very good time — nineteen days ;
and on it you had written, *' Yours of February
14th just arrived," so that only took twenty days.
Less than six weeks to do the return trip is a good
record just now. Everything is going splendidly.
I am in good health, good spirits, and feel full of
energy.
Each day's paper gives us further assurance of
big preparations and determination to enter the
war by the United States. By now you must feel
that you have a big and powerful party on your
side, who are only too anxious to do everything
that can be done to make amends for the past.
The meeting at Madison Square Garden must have
been great, and the New York '' World's " cam-
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LETTERS FROM FRANCE
paign to make a gift of $1,000,000,000 to France.
It seems very little for us to do for a country that
has suffered so in the name of Democracy, and
who always helped us in our fights for the same
thing. Her losses in this war have, for the most
part, been our gain.
For the last week it has been very cold, and
there has been much snow and sleet, but to-day
it is warmer and very bright and sunny. Last
year, April was half rain and half summer weather,
so I suppose this year will be much the same.
There will be many cold nights still, no doubt, but
winter discomforts are practically over.
I am glad that you have the Toronto paper, for
it keeps you in touch with all the news of the
Canadian forces, and devotes more time and heart
to the war than ours. In a way it must remind
you of the way we used to get it every morning
and look for news of the Pioneers. The times are
certainly full enough of action and realities to give
every one pause. Things happen every day that
were entirely out of the ken of the last generation.
The Russian revolution is one of the greatest
upheavals of political wrong in the world's history,
and accomplished quickly and easily. My earliest
thoughts of Russia always placed it in my mind
as a mysterious, half-civilized place like China,
full of secret societies, spies, and the mediaeval
155
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
exile in Siberia. Now in three days the whole rot-
ten secret core has been rooted out, and she takes
her place beside other Christian countries, fighting
for humanity and at the same time strangling the
wrong in her own home. The old oligarchical rule
that trusted to secrecy, mystery, superstition, un-
derground darkness, for its power, seems to have
had its day. More and more the Christian idea of
fresh air and daylight is coming into the world.
Vice flourishes in the dark, and secrecy is the
enemy of honesty. I am sure that this war will
end in a revolution of the Central empires and the
overthrow of their system of tyrannical govern-
ment. For that reason, if for no other, it is for the
United States to give and do everything for our
success.
Well, dearest mother, I must put this in the
mail. My very dearest love to you and father.
You are always in my heart and thoughts.
Palm Sunday^ April 1, 1917
Dearest Mother :
I have not had a chance to write much this
week. We are just out of the line again, and com-
fortable in a good camp for a little while. The par-
cel with the toilet things sent from Quebec arrived
safely a day or two ago, and they are all lovely.
156
LETTERS FROM FRANCE
The rubber-lined bag is exactly what I wanted
to put my things in, and the sponge, brush and
comb, toothbrush and paste are all things I wanted,
and the little cakes of Daggett and RamsdelPs soap
are lovely ; just another of your dear parcels with
the things you think of for me. Where did you
get the pretty khaki-colored stuff for the bag ?
I have n't had a letter from you since that of
March 5th, but last night came the enclosure of
the Raemakers cartoons and the little Japanese cal-
endar. I am so glad you were able to see those
pictures. I have seen a great many, but not half
of those in the catalogue, and I thought them very
wonderful and moving. The Foreword in the cata-
logue is right when it gives them a permanent
place as witness to posterity of the outrages of this
war. No wonder the German Government has
placed a price on his head. I loved the little Jap-
anese calendar and the description of the Leprosy
Hospital. What a wonderful work it is, and what
bravery it must take to face isolation and an in-
curable disease cheerfully ! The little prayers op-
posite each month are appropriate to the life out
here, and I will keep it as my pocket calendar.
Just now I have received two more letters from
you, postmarked March 1st and March 4th, both
of them dear and full of love. You spoke of the
cable. I am glad it reached you and was reassur-
157
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
ing. We know that it takes very little time if we
want to communicate any special news. I did not
hurry in replying to yours, for I knew you would
not be expecting it immediately. I think that I
will send you word at intervals that way, and I
will only send when I am sure the news will hold
good for the time it takes for you to receive it ; for
instance, at the beginning of a rest. One letter
enclosed a beautiful little violet card for peace, and
the other the violet from the big bunch that you
bought for me . I will keep them in my prayer-book .
You said that you were writing in the dark with-
out knowing when or how the letters would reach
me, so it should be reassuring to know that they
have come through in good time. As for that
Christmas parcel, I do not know what can have
become of it. When I think of all your care and
love in making and sending it, and the joy it
would have been, it makes me heart-sick to think
that it never came: the handkerchiefs with my
name and all. There is no way that I can trace it.
The Army Post-Office is working under tremen-
dous pressure, and mistakes occur inevitably.
D. S. sent me a parcel about then which never
arrived, and she says that one was sent to me
from St. Thomas's Church. I never had that
either. A parcel from Aunt G. that should have
taken a week took seven weeks. Apparently it
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LETTERS FROM FRANCE
travelled around to a lot of different battalions, as
did a letter from Toronto. Anyway, now I have
all my toilet things, and they are lovely.
We are all waiting anxiously for the extra ses-
sion of Congress and its action. Every one is sure
that it will be a declaration of war or that war is
going on. What a tremendous inertia has to be
overcome before things can start. One of the D
Company officers received the editorial page of
two New York "Tribunes," and the editorials
were splendid. It made one feel that America was
sound at the core. In one of the columns was the
account of an appeal, circulated by the "American
Emergency Peace Federation," urging people to
do everything in their power to tie things up at the
Capitol, by keeping a stream of telegrams and let-
ters flowing to the President and Congress peti-
tioning peace. I think it was the most infamous
thing that I ever read. On a par with that is the
recent utterance that outrages three thousand
miles away were no concern of ours. In spite of
all, I am sure a very short time will find the United
States openly at war, and then all the loyal people
whose life is now unbearable, according to the
New York " Tribune," will have their chance.
That was such a thought of yours, to let me
give you the violets that you love. You know the
joy it would be to me to be able to give them, so
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AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
you just made it possible. Your knowledge and
acceptance of my love is my greatest happiness.
You ask me if I had heard from H. Not for
about two weeks. You know she has been in a
clearing station in Flanders, and I think is nearly
worn out with the work. You know the drive of
hospital work, but these military hospitals are
more intense. They are full of terribly hard cases
to handle, and the nearer one gets to the line the
more tremendous the strain. A ward empties in
the morning and is full up again by afternoon;
at the clearing stations, only the very worst cases
are kept. Men are sent on, that a city hospital
would think it murder to move.
To-day our old padre. Captain H., came in to
see us. That reminds me that Canon S. is very
near here, and the day after to-morrow I am go-
ing over to see him.
There is much to be done and my letters do not
seem frequent. This has stretched over two days,
so now I am going to finish it, for it is very late and
cold. My dearest love to father and to all. Dear-
est, dearest mother, good-night.
April 6, Good Friday
Dear Father :
My letters to you have not been very frequent
lately. We have been rushed steadily, and letters
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LETTERS FROM FRANCE
to mother have been all that I can manage. Every
one was delighted with the news in this morning's
paper that the United States had declared war,
and intends to enter into it whole-heartedly, with
army and navy and in alliance with the Allies. It
is wonderful to think of, and from now on I will
feel that I am fighting under my own flag. Every-
thing is going well out here, the weather is getting
warmer and winter conditions are practically at an
end. There is going to be plenty of rain and mud,
but those are things we must always contend with.
Good news comes in each day, and the German
line is being forced steadily back by the British.
It is only a matter of a week or so before the fall
of Saint-Quentin, which is one of the nuclei of the
Hindenburg line.
I am very well and full of good spirits and ex-
pectations, and now that the United States is at
war, I am more glad than ever that I am here. I
remember in the spring of 1914, when the first ru-
mors of war with Mexico began to come through,
I was wondering what my chances of being ac-
cepted as a private would be, rather dubious about
my eyes. Later, when the first Canadian contin-
gent left, and O. with them, I felt as if I had been
robbed of something and I longed for a chance to
enlist for my country as they had for theirs. Now
I am right at the front, and with a commission, on
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the very day my country declares war. It seems
as though my greatest and most impossible earthly
longing has been granted. I am going to try to be
worthy of it, and when I am facing anything hard
in the future, I will remember I am an American
soldier.
I can understand what a relief it must be to you
after all your distress to have it settled, and now
every one can settle down to the work of prepara-
tion. If one can believe our papers they are going
at it with a whole heart and no half measures.
There is no news that I can send you now, ex-
cepting to send you my love and assurance that I
am doing and will do my best, and that I am al-
ways thinking of you and mother and your desire
that I do my part. Very much love to you both.
April 7, 19ir
Dearest Mother :
I am going to start my Easter letter to you to-
night and finish it in the morning. I had a won-
derful mail the other day : four or five letters from
you, dated February 24th (marked "damaged by
seawater "), March 10th, 12th, and 16th. Besides
those I have your letters of March 1st and 4th.
The last letter had your beautiful Easter card, so
your timing this time was just right.
I am rejoicing with you in the great decision of
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LETTERS FROM FRANCE
the country to join the Allies. It has been a won-
derful inspiration and encouragement to every one
out here and a joy to me, and I know what a great
relief and comfort it is to you after the long strain
of waiting and suffering. Now, we are giving and
fighting for our own flag and native country who
has found again her ideals. I am looking forward
to Easter with that happy thought in my heart and
soul.
It is late now, so, dearest mother, I will say
''Good-night."
Easter Morning
Happy Easter, dearest mother. I have been to
the communion service in the Y.M.C.A. tent, and
now have just finished my breakfast. It is a beau-
tiful, sunshiny spring day, one of the loveliest we
have had for weeks. After the service, the chap-
lain handed out copies of this poem. I am sending
it to you as an Easter memento of the firing line.
It is very wonderful, and I think the epitome of
what one feels out here.
I am very well and happy just now, and we are
all full of the inspiration and encouragement that
this great new ally, the United States, and all the
fine success of the French and British farther south,
have given us. It is only a question of pushing
steadily and determinedly ahead now, and we will
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AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
win. There are lots of strong men here, and lots
more ready to come from England and America,
so we go ahead with that thought in our hearts. I
wish I could tell you more about things now, but
perhaps that will come later. To-day I am in a
comfortable wooden hut on a hillside, right in the
centre of every kind of activity of a warlike nature.
This section of country is entirely given over to
the military, and it is teeming with life.
Well, dearest mother, I must stop for a while
now. My dearest love to you and father always.
From your son
Edwin
" Beyond the path of the outmost sun, through utter dark-
ness hurled —
Farther than ever comet flared or vagrant Stardust swirled —
Live such as fought, and sailed, and ruled, and loved, and
made our world.
*' And ofttimes cometh our wise Lord God, master of every
trade,
And tells them tales of His daily toil, of Edens newly
made,
And they rise to their feet as He passes by, gentlemen
unafraid."
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LETTERS FROM FRANCE
(Found in soldier* s kit, forwarded to his mother from
Ottawa)
France^ April 6, 1917
Good Friday
Dearest Mother and Father :
We are going up to an attack in a short time,
and I am going to leave this note to be sent to you
in case by God's will this is to be my final work.
I have made my Communion, and go with a light
heart and a determination to do all that I possibly
can to help in this fight against evil, for God and
humanity. I do not think of death or expect it, but
I am not afraid of it, and will give my life gladly
if it is asked. It is my greatest comfort that I know
you too will gladly give all that is asked, and live
on happily doing all that can be done, grateful to
God for his acceptance of our sacrifice. To-day
the news came to us here that the United States
had joined the Allies, so I go with the happy con-
sciousness that I am, and you are, fighting for our
dear flag, as thousands of Americans have before
us in the cause of Liberty. It may be comfort for
you to know that I have a great company of com-
rades, men and officers, all filled with determina-
tion and cheerful courage.
My dearest love to S. and H. and their dear
children. My heart is full of gratitude for having
165
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
such love as they have given me. My dearest love
to all my friends, all who have loved me and whom
I love.
Now, dearest mother, and dearest father, I will
say good-bye for a time. You have given me my
faith, which makes this so easy for me, and a
wonderful example and inspiration of courage and
unselfishness. All my love, and God bless you
both. Your son.
IV
ADDITIONAL LETTERS
IV
ADDITIONAL LETTERS
In the Fields April 22, 1917
W. B. Abbey, Esq^.,
523 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, U.S.A.
Dear Mr. Abbey :
I would like to write you concerning the death
of your son in action on the morning of April 10th,
about nine o'clock. It is my duty to write, since I
was in charge of the line at the time, but I want
to write even more because I thought very highly
of him as a gentleman and a friend. At the time
of his death, he was in charge of one of our most
dangerous posts. It was a strong point in front of
our trench, and a little distance over the crest of
Vimy Ridge. It was necessary to hold it in order
to deny to the enemy the approach up the hill to
the crest. Because of the loss we had suffered in the
post, it was almost decided to withdraw from the
post during the day, but your son came and argued
that he should continue to hold the post because
of its importance. In this he showed his fine de-
votion to duty and disregard of danger. On his
way out to the post he was shot and killed by an
enemy sniper.
169
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
His grave is marked by the Graves Registration
Committee, and later a suitable mark will be set
up by the battalion. The chaplain later read the
service over his grave.
I would like to assure you of my genuine sym-
pathy in your great loss. I feel a sense of personal
loss myself, for one does n't often meet such fine
fellows. In my brief experience with him, he had
always shown himself a gallant soldier and a thor-
ough gentleman.
Yours sincerely
A. P. Menzies
Major 4th C.M.R.
{Extract from a letter to the soldier'' s mother^ from
Major Hertzberg)
July 18, 1917
On the 9th of April in the morning, immedi-
ately after the final objective had been taken, Ed-
win took forward a party of men to reinforce the
garrisons of some advanced posts. He reached
these posts and successfully made the relief under
heavy rifle fire from very close range. In one of
the posts he found the officer in charge. Lieutenant
W.J. Butson, senior subaltern of Edwin's com-
pany, seriously wounded, and realized that there
was no chance of his pulling through unless he
170
ADDITIONAL LETTERS
had medical attention at once. Edwin therefore
toolc some of his men and decided to make an
attempt to get Butson out. By every law in the
world the thing was impossible, and yet impossi-
ble things are done by some men, even as this one
was carried through by your son, over absolutely
open ground in broad daylight, in full view of the
enemy at very close range. The ground the party
had to cover was only some three hundred yards,
but up a very steep and exposed slope. It took
four hours to cover that ground, jumping from
shell hole to shell hole with the wounded man. At
the expiration of that time Edwin and one other
man in that party, the others all casualties, carried
Butson into our front line, all in a state of com-
plete exhaustion.
Edwin was then ordered by his O.C. to get some
rest and not go forward again. He apparently
stayed in the front line for a few hours, and then
in the early morning of the 10th, with four scouts,
again started out for the advanced posts to see that
his men were all right. It was still dark, and he
seems to have mistaken his bearing. It was all new
ground and extremely difficult to locate, so he
halted his four men and went forward himself to
find the post, and just as dawn was breaking, he
must have come right on top of the German line
of snipers. It is reported that he rose up suddenly
171
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
from the ground and shouted to his men to get
back to our people, with the information as to
where he had found the German line, and then he
pitched forward and dropped.
Patrols were immediately sent out to find him,
and three of them at different times during the day
are sure that they got to the spot where he was seen
to fall. He was finally found some distance from
that spot, after the enemy line had been forced far-
ther back. They had obviously carried him back
to their main line to some officer in order to identify
what troops were against them. Everything was
taken from his pockets and clothes, all his badges,
etc., except his identity disc, which was round his
neck. He was shot through the heart, and death
must have been instantaneous. He was buried prac-
tically where he fell. These are cold, bare facts that
I have given you. I have no words to enlarge on
them or to praise him. You know how every one
near him loved and respected him.
I am enclosing two notes I have from Captain M.
(I met him twice — such a fine fellow) and also C,
a very young sub, who told me he always looked
up to Edwin and felt so safe and confident when he
was with him. It went right through me, the way
he spoke ; and just before he left me, he pointed
rather proudly to a very new and clean ribbon of
the Military Cross on his left breast, and said so
172
"SaoT^
ADDITIONAL LETTERS
simply and quietly, ' * Abbey would have had that
instead of me if he had not been killed." I have
known men in South Africa, and in the early part
of this war, to get a V.C. for less !
I was unable to arrange to have M. show me the
grave, but he gave me map location and I man-
aged to find it. He lies halfway up the steep slope
towards the east, that he died in holding, with his
face to his enemies and surrounded by his brother
officers and men who fell with him. The whole slope
is dotted with those * ' mounds of Flemish earth ' '
that
" witness bear as men pass by
That greater things than life or death
Are Truth and Right, which never die."
I think that so wonderfully suits Edwin. He
saw some one fighting for Truth and Right and
some one fighting against it, and at once, and for
no other reason, he threw all he had with what he
thought was right, and he died for it ; and I think
that must be the very biggest and highest thing
that a man can do.
The slope is now all covered with fresh new
green leaves and bright little flowers ; all the stars
and rents and shell holes are covered as though
some one had healed the wounds. I picked the
flowers from his grave the morning I put up the
173
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
cross, — such a glorious morning ! The sun just
coming up over the German lines that were all hid-
den by a kind mist, so that the guns were silent,
only an occasional sharp crack of a rifle away off"
in the mist-covered trenches, and up on the ridge
high above the ground mist, everything so bright and
clear, and fresh and sweet-smelling ; and we put up
the cross and tidied things up a little, and then I
sent my two men back, and I stayed a minute alone
and thought of the wonder of it all, and then — I
left him alone with his glory.
* * *
* ' So he passed over, and the trumpets sounded
for him on the other side."
THE END
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